History of the Madison Valley

People

Archaeological surveys of this area show that people have lived in the Madison Valley for perhaps 10,000 years. Hundreds of locations throughout the valley have turned up stone tools, bison kills, cairns, ceremonial sites, tipi rings, pictographs and petroglyphs, indicating this part of Southwestern Montana has been occupied since early Paleoindian times.

Though scientists can't determine with certainty the tribal affiliations of prehistoric peoples, the modern Native American tribes could be identified during the Protohistoric and Historic periods (in Montana, the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1805-1806 is generally accepted as the beginning of the Historic period). Blackfeet, Flathead, Nez Perce and Shoshone-Bannack groups were in this area at this time, either living or visiting and hunting. Local lore says the tribes mutually declared these excellent hunting grounds an area of peace, ensuring all would reap the benefits of such a rich, beautiful place.