Scenic View
Photo courtesy: MTOT
Decision Point
Photo courtesy: Bureau of Land Management
Loma is northeast of Fort Benton where the Marias River joins the Missouri River. Lewis and Clark camped here on June 3, 1805, and named the smaller river after Capt. Lewis's cousin, Maria Wood. In 1831 Fort Peigan, a trading post, was established here by James Kipp of the American Fur Company. A year later the post was abandoned, burned by the Indians, and replaced by Fort McKenzie. Ferryboat service was available for many years at Loma. (from Cheney's Names on the Face of Montana, Mountain Press Publishing Company)
The tiny community of Loma has an interesting museum. Visit the Earth Science Museum for a look at a wide collection of gems, minerals, fossils, Native American artifacts and train memorabilia.
Cross the Missouri River by ferry upriver at Carter or down-river at Virgelle; both ferries operate from March through October. Just one mile south of Loma, in June 1805, is where the Lewis and Clark Expedition spent nine days at the Marias River deciding which fork would lead them to the northwest passage. The "Decision Point" marker on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is where they determined whether or not the Marias was a main stem of the Missouri. They concluded that it was not. Decision Point is only one mile off of Highway 87, near the town of Loma, and a visit will reward you with a beautiful overlook of the confluence of the Marias and Missouri Rivers.
