MAPPING AND GEOGRAPHICAL WORLD

Bozeman, Montana is located in the Gallatin Valley, through which William Clark, from the Lewis and Clark Expedition, along with Sacagawea, the Shoshone Indian guide, came in 1806 on the expedition's divided return route. They recorded the existence of a fertile valley and many beaver dams. They named the Madison, Jefferson and Gallatin rivers. John Colter from the Lewis and Clark expedition returned to the area to hunt and trap in 1808. In 1864, John Bozeman lead settlers from the Oregon trail up to Montana to settle at the new town of Bozeman or to stop on their way through to the gold fields of Virginia City, Montana. Just a few years later the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians forced the closure of the Bozeman Trail for some time to stop further immigration. Fort Ellis was established in 1868 to provide protection. Cattle were also driven here from Texas to start the Montana cattle industry. Frontiersman, Jim Bridger brought a wagon train to the area. The Bridger Range of mountains and Bridger Canyon North of town are named for him. In 1872, Yellowstone National Park was established about 80 miles to the Southeast. The Northern Pacific Railway completed a line through the Bozeman Pass in 1883, paralleling the Bozeman Trail. Montana State University was founded in 1893.