James Kipp Recreation Area - Nez Perce National Historic Trail - Auto Tours (sitios de interés)

James Kipp Recreation Area

Although steamboats could travel as far up the Missouri River as Fort Benton during spring runoff, the lower water of summer and fall meant that Cow Island, near where Cow Creek joins the Missouri River, was the farthest upstream boats could run. Freight was off-loaded at Cow Island and stored beside a bluff in an open-air depot.

After passing through the Judith Basin the Nez Perce approached the Missouri River and the supply depot at Cow Island. There they crossed the river and moved two miles upstream to make camp. Two of the Nez Perce then approached the depot to ask for food. Their encounter, begun peaceably, soon degenerated to a point where the Nez Perce realized the only way they would get the supplies they needed was to take them by force.