Over the centuries, Montana�s annals of history have been filled with the names of the famous (Lewis and Clark, Sitting Bull, Charles M. Russell) and the infamous (Custer, Butte�s Copper Kings). The legends surrounding these figures are Montana treasures as much as the precious metals that brought many of them here. The Montana of today is proud to tell the tales of its past, and to share its cultural attractions with all who visit.

THE BICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION OF THE LEWIS & CLARK EXPEDITION From 2003 through 2006, Montana will commemorate the Lewis and Clark �Corps of Discovery� bicentennial. And for anyone who is the least bit interested in Lewis and Clark, Montana should be at the very center of any plans. Consider this: Lewis and Clark spent more time traveling in Montana than they did in any other present-day state. Of the journey�s 8,000 miles traveled, about 2,000 of those miles (fully 25%) were in Montana. If you count up all of Montana�s Lewis and Clark campsites alone, you�ll find out there are 286 of them�enough to keep you camping for more than nine months straight, if you tried to stay a night at each site yourself. In Great Falls, the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center is along the banks of the Missouri River. Inside the center, modern exhibits detail the whole expedition and their encounters with the Plains Indians.

VIRGINIA CITY The tale of Virginia City is a tale of gold. Gold was first discovered outside Virginia City in Alder Gulch in 1863. A few short years later, Virginia City�s population had swollen to 10,000. Unfortunately, as the gold discoveries dried up, so did the population. People literally abandoned the town they had created.

The good news for visitors today is that Virginia City (and nearby Nevada City) are enjoying a second �boom.� Tourists can learn about Virginia City�s infamous sheriff, Henry Plummer (and see the gallows where he was hanged by Vigilantes). Or, they can see Montana�s oldest professional theatre company, the Virginia City Players, perform an evening of authentic theatre and vaudeville at the original Opera House. The town�s original brewery (the Gilbert Brewery) hosts The Brewery Follies, a constant sell-out with its authentic cabaret-style revue. For those who really want to relive the past, Virginia City also has shooting and hanging reenactments, and opportunities for visitors to pan for gold or rubies.

FORT BENTON A National Historic Landmark, Fort Benton is the birthplace of Montana. Fur traders, gold seekers and homesteaders came here via steamboat, making Fort Benton �the innermost port in the world.� A fur and buffalo robe trading post at first, it became the hub for trade and travel for all of Montana and western Canada soon after. Lewis and Clark, Jim Bridger, Kit Carson and John Colter all explored the area. During the gold rush, Fort Benton was at the center of the action: each season, more than 50 steamboats docked to unload supplies, miners and prospectors, then re-load with tons of gold bound for St. Louis.

Today, the town of Fort Benton retains much of its �steamboat days� character. Many of the buildings located within its National Historic Landmark District were constructed during the golden years of the 1880s. The steamboat levee is now a park running the length of the community. The remains of the �Old Fort� can be found in the city park, and are currently being renovated. The area�s history is chronicled at the Museum of the Upper Missouri and the Museum of the Northern Great Plains. INDIAN RESERVATIONS & POWWOWS Montana is home to seven Indian reservations. In turn, those seven reservations are home to 11 tribes and 40,000 tribal members. The people of these reservations proudly preserve their cultural heritage, and Montana�s reservations offer unique opportunities to see gatherings (powwows) with traditional dress and rituals� performed as they have been for hundreds of years. These social gatherings feature generations-old drumming and dancing, as well as traditional dress and food. Powwows, hand games, shinny games, rodeos and other events are usually open to the public. Powwows and special events on reservations include: � Crow Fair Powwow, Rodeo and Race Meet, Crow Agency. � Standing Arrow Powwow, on the west shore of Flathead Lake. � Fort Belknap Mid-Winter Fair, Fort Belknap Reservation. � Rocky Boy�s Annual Powwow, Rocky Boy�s Reservation. � North American Indian Days, Blackfeet Reservation.

Montana�s Indian reservations are filled with important historic, cultural and scenic sites. Montana�s reservations, tribes and points of interest include:

� Blackfeet Reservation (headquartered in Browning), home of the Blackfeet people. Unique sites include the Museum of the Plains Indian, the Blackfeet Community College and the Blackfeet Historic Site Tour.

� Crow Reservation (headquartered in Crow Agency), home of the Crow tribe. Some attractions are Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area and Yellowtail Dam, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Chief Plenty Coups State Park and Little Big Horn College.

� Flathead Reservation (headquartered in Pablo), home of the Salish, Kootenai and Pend d�Oreille tribes. Interesting sites here include the Flathead Indian Museum, Flathead Lake, the National Bison Range, Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge, St. Ignatius Mission, Salish-Kootenai College and �The People�s Center.�

� Fort Peck Reservation (headquartered in Poplar), home of the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes. Points of interest include the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Culture Center and Fort Peck Community College.

� Fort Belknap Reservation (headquartered in Fort Belknap Agency and Harlem), home of the Assiniboine and Gros Ventre tribes. Among the attractions are Fort Belknap Community College, Fort Belknap Ventures, Mission Canyon/Natural Bridge and St. Paul�s Mission Church.

� Northern Cheyenne Reservation (headquartered in Lame Deer), home to the Northern Cheyenne and members of other tribes. Interesting things to see are Chief Two Moons Monument, Dull Knife Memorial College and St. Labre Indian School.

� Rocky Boy�s Reservation (headquartered in Box Elder), home to the Chippewa-Cree. Important sites include the Stone Child College.

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Media Contact: Donnie Sexton +1 406-841-2897 donnie@visitmt.com