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

HISTORY
On August 27, 1926, in evening ceremonies, the Mount Hyalite
Chapter, NSDAR placed a native copper tablet on a boulder at the site
of old Fort Ellis at an event attended by over 500 people. The
monument, surrounded by a wreath of sweet pea flowers, was erected a
few feet from where the fort’s sundial stood. Chapter Regent Mrs. M.P.
Davidson presided, and Mrs. C.A. Rasmusson of Helena, chair of the
DAR Historic Preservation Committee gave the dedicatory address,
expressing appreciation to the Anaconda Copper Mining Company for
the gift of the tablet. Mrs. Rasmusson’s remarks included:
The simple legends on signs like this one at Fort Ellis will raise up a
treasury of golden texts for impressive sermons on patriotism, and
now, on behalf of the National Society of the Daughters of the
American Revolution, it becomes my privilege to dedicate this
memorial to the memory of the brave men who were stationed here
and who served their country well. We entrust its protection to you
people of the Gallatin valley, your children, and generations to come.
Mrs. E. Broox Martin of Bozeman, a member of the state DAR
Marker Committee, made the presentation to Gallatin County. The
American flags draping the monument were then drawn by Robert
McKee and Oliver Whitcomb, children of DAR members.
Fort Ellis was established as a U.S. Army post on August 27, 1867
at the recommendation of General H. Terry, then commanding the
Department of Dakota (Dakota Territory). The fort was approved by
General Ulysses S. Grant, Commander of the Armies of the United
States, and the executive order for its establishment was signed by
President Andrew Johnson. It was named in honor of Colonel
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