Montana's DAR Markers . . . Honoring Where History Was Made

oulder. At that point, the boulder’s cost totaled $120. While the
chapter was shocked, they “whole-heartedly endorsed the finding of a
second stone, as much that the arduous efforts of the Gibsons, so freely
given, might now end in futility, as for the desire to make use of this
most handsome and historic marker.” The second stone ended up
costing $150. In all, the Bitter Root Chapter ended up with a deficit of
$120. Mrs. Gibson and Mrs. J.M. Keith each personally loaned the
chapter $60 to cover the debt and it was some years later that the
chapter was able to repay “our civic-minded members for their aid.”
Added to the cost, there was tension between the community of
Lolo and the placement of the marker, which was seen as intervention
by outside communities, “and all efforts by the Committee to placate
them were unavailing.” The County Commissioners gave permission
for a store to be built on the right of way to the road (at the spot already
occupied by the marker) and sanctioned moving the stone adjacent to
the store, where it became a “repository of all the refuse and litter
usually to be found outside the doors of a small country store.” Later,
Highway 93 was put through, and the stone again had to be moved—
but closer to the original campsite.
In November 1977, the Field Maintenance Division of the State
Highway Department located the marker. It is still in the original
setting but is not visible from the highway, as the highway has been
moved.
In the summer of 2002, archaeologists found evidence of the Corps
of Discovery's visit to the area, including a trench latrine tainted with
mercury, fire hearths, and lead used to repair and manufacture firearms.
The discovery makes Travelers' Rest the only campsite on the Lewis
and Clark Trail with physical evidence of the Expedition. It is on the
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