Mullan Road
Conference
The Mullan Road Conference focuses on the historic Mullan military wagon road; its history, its stories, and the exploration of its impact on the American West. Our semi-annual gatherings share research, foster dialogue, and tour the physical remnants of the road that shaped the expansion of the Northwest.
Helena, Montana —September 4-6, 2026
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John Mullan
History of the Mullan Road
The 624-mile Mullan Road, built between 1859 and 1862, connected the head of Missouri River navigation at Fort Benton in what soon became Montana Territory to the Columbia River at Fort Walla Walla, Washington Territory. Its construction was directed by military engineer Lt. John Mullan, who had also been part of the Northern Pacific Railroad Survey Expedition of 1853-54.
The military wagon road was a monumental feat of 19th-century engineering, carved through some of the continent's most challenging mountainous terrain, but it also created challenges for the Indigenous people who lived along the route. As the number and variety of travelers increased, so did tensions and at times, conflict.
Today, some sections of the road are close to modern highways such as Interstate 90 and U.S. Highways 12 and 87. Other sections are now part of remote county roads, and yet other areas are abandoned, with sidecuts along mountains and fading wagon wheel ruts on the plains providing evidence of the historic route.
Sponsors
Special thanks to:
Preserve Montana
Fiscal Sponsor of the
2026 Mullan Road Conference
Our Event Sponsors:
Special thanks to our generous donors:
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Ken Robison
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Dr. Bill Youngs
Sponsorships and gifts make the Mullan Road Conference possible. Make a donation online by clicking the "Donate" button below, or send a check made payable to Preserve Montana and mailed to PO Box 101, Helena, MT, 59624. Please note on any check that the gift is restricted to the Mullan Road Conference. Preserve Montana is the fiscal sponsor of the conference and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.