Trailblazers John Bozeman and John Jacobs opened the Bozeman Trail in 1864 as a shortcut between the Overland Road and the newly discovered Montana gold fields.
The trail began near present Casper, Wyoming and ended just over the Bozeman Pass in the Gallatin Valley.
While some emigrants left the trail at present Livingston and went up the Yellowstone River to Emigrant Gulch, most continued over the pass and traveled over existing local roads to Bannack and Virginia City.

The road over Norris Hill already existed when it was used in 1864 as an extension of the Bozeman Trail from Bozeman and the Gallatin Valley to Virginia City.
Heavy Bozeman Trail traffic continued on this road in 1865 and 1866.
Although Indian resistance to the trail in the Powder River country forced the closure of it to emigrants after the 1866 travel season, the Bozeman to Virginia City portion of the road continued to be a major thoroughfare.
Agricultural products produced by Gallatin Valley farmers, ranchers and mill owners found a lucrative market in the gold camps of southwestern Montana. Today's U.S. Highway 287 remains an important route in southwestern Montana.

The old Bozeman Trail extension to Virginia City is still visible to the west of this highway.

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  Norris, MT  |  Madison County  |  59745  |  Montana  |  United States of America

Virginia City
Thompson-Hickman Library and Museum
1863 - Virginia City - 1925
C. L. Dahler House
Virginia City National Historic Landmark District
Hangman's Building
Allen and Millard Bank
The Remarkable Sarah Bickford
Gallows Barn
Elling Bank

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.