The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-04-30
UNEMPLOYED
UNTIL YEAR 1899
MARIAS PASS, FOUND IN 1854, WAS
NOT INVESTIGATED UNTIL
YEARS LATER

Marias pass, the most feasible
crossing of the Continental divide
in the northern Rocky mountains,
is at the southern boundary of Gla-
cier national park. Its existence
was known to white men as early
as 1870, although it was not actu-
ally explored until 1889. Expedf-, :
tions searching for this pass fur
nish the earliest recorded history
of the park.
In 1906 Lewis and Clark were within
about 100 miles of the pass. They were
on a side expedition from their route
of travel across the continent and ap-
parently did not know there was such a
pass. The Blackfeet nation knew of it
but were not friendly to the eXpedi-
ton; thus the principal source of in
formation was denied the explorers.
Hostility of the Blackfeet, more than
any other factor, caused the easiest
pass to be the last discovered. Had the
side expedition assembled the Marias
river two or three additional days be-
fore turning back, the pass would have
been visible and a much easier route to
the Pacific made available.
In 1910 Robert Greenhow published
a map showing Route Across the
Mountains which closely a~pproXim.ates
the true location of MariaS pass. Isaac
Stevens, governor of the Oregon terri
tory, in his expedition Of 1886, re-
garded the location of this pass his
principal objectiye: One Of his sub
ordinates. a Mr.. Tinkham. thought he
had discovered it, but it proved to be
Cut Bank pass in Glacier national park.
Just why this party assembled Nyack
creek leading to Cut Bank pass instead
OF the much larger Middle Fork of the
Flathead river leading to Marias pass
will never be known. 1t is thought fear
OF the Biackfeet changed its plans.
In 1854, a Mr.. Doty, another SUBJ
ordinate of Governor Stevens. after
ascending the Marias river, makes the
following entry in his journal on
May Oath:
Morning clear and warm. The Ma
riaS river comes through a gap in the
mountains some Is miles in width-his
CTinkham's) description and topogra-
ply of the pass and mountains do not
agree with reality and it would Ger
tainly seem as though he could not
have passed through here"
MariaS pass was in view of the white
man for the first time!
Mr. Doty apparently did not realize
1t or he would have explored the gap
despite the fact that he was under or
ders to report at Fort Benton the last
of the month. Upon reading the report
of the expedition, Governor Stevens
sensed the elusive pass had been To-
Gated, but curt orders from the war
department. in%structing him to incur
no more expense in his explorations
caused abandonment of the search.
In 8 8 the Great Northern railroad
had been built to Helena. with the in
tention of extending it to the Pacific
when the most feasible route had been
determined. In 1889. John F.. Stevens
was given charge of Rocky mountain
reconnaissance. That winter, accom-
panied by n F1athead Indian, he ex-
plored Marias pass. The Indian refused
to accompany him on his last days
Journey. His sufferings in midwinter.
with no camp equipment, must have
been terrible. Where thoroughly or
ganized expeditions failed in summer,
WI: Stevens, practically alone and in
midwinter. succeeded.
It Is fitting that a heroic figure in
bronze now stands in Marias pass. COM
memorating the exploit.