SigMT

56 | SIGNATURE MONTANA You have to go back further into the history of the Grand Union Hotel and Fort Benton to really understand the significance of the building. Established in 1846, Fort Benton is considered the birthplace of Montana. Located along the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail and the Nez Perce National Historic Trail, it was a terminus for the 642-mile-long Mullan Wagon Road and gateway to the Upper Missouri River Breaks. e Missouri River was a highway for transporting selers, merchandise, and supplies to Fort Benton. Fur trade, followed by the gold rush, set the stage for a raucous Wild West town filled with gambling, drinking, prostitution, and gunfights. At the height of the steamboat era, heady investors built the magnificent Grand Union Hotel, filled it with lavish furnishings, and at the hotel's opening on November 2, 1882, threw what was considered the biggest and flashiest party in the history of the Northwest Territory. e new hotel, with its corbels, ornate chimneys, terra coa brick, and wrought-iron balconies, was a stunning sight. All ornamentation and more expensive glass were placed facing Front Street, which was considered a more desirable room location than the riverside because of the noisy steamboats. It was finished with custom-made doors and windows and filled with Victorian furnishings, Bavarian china, linens, and silver service. e luxurious hotel provided travelers a last hurrah before embarking into a baering frontier life. With a discerning eye and appetite for historical accuracy, Cheryl retained the old west flavor in each of the 27 elegant guest rooms. Always hands-on, Cheryl straightens a pillow on the bed. Photo: Courtesy of the Grand Union

• Cover