Roosevelt County: Culture and History

Roosevelt County brings together places with very different stories: Fort Union recalls the fur trade on the Missouri River, while museums and historic buildings in Wolf Point, Poplar, and Culbertson offer insights into the region. Nature experiences and events also add their own distinctive touches—helpful if you’re planning your stay around specific sights or dates.

Reservation, History, and Culture

More than 74 percent of Roosevelt County’s land area lies within the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Visitors can see tipi rings, buffalo jumps, and sacred sites there. Contact the tribal office before visiting specific locations and respect tribal customs.

Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site commemorates the Fort Union fur trading post, which operated from 1828 to 1867. It is located at the junction of McKenzie and Williams Counties in North Dakota and Richland and Roosevelt Counties in Montana. The full-scale reconstruction of buildings from the 1850s includes palisade walls about five meters high, a trade house, the clerk’s office, and the impressive Bourgeois House. Together, these different buildings show the layout of a historic trading post.

Wolf Point also connects different chapters of regional history. In May 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped on the Missouri River south of the present-day city. The Wolf Point Missouri River Bridge was completed and opened to traffic in 1930; it is preserved to interpret transportation history in eastern Montana. A bronze sculpture, “Homage,” stands permanently on Main Street; it was dedicated on August 21, 1976. It honors Native Americans as well as the region’s pioneers and founders.

In Wolf Point, the Wolf Point Area Historical Society Museum displays antiques, memorabilia, and artifacts from early settlers, as well as exhibits on Indigenous culture. It is currently located at 203 U.S. Highway 2 East and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from June through August; check the hours before your visit. In Poplar, the Poplar Museum’s collections are housed in the former jail cells of a Tribal Jail built around 1920 and listed on the historic register. They cover frontier and Indigenous history. The Culbertson Museum and Visitor Center comprises nine historic rooms. The Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Culture Center and Museum features permanent exhibits on the heritage, art, and crafts of the Assiniboine and Sioux.

Events Throughout the Year

Wolf Point’s “Wild Horse” Stampede has been held on the second weekend in July since 1915. The program at Marvin Brookman Stadium includes a wild horse race, steer roping, and bronc riding; the event also features noon parades, street dances, and a carnival. If you’d like to plan your trip around it, check the event dates in advance.

Other annual celebrations take place in June and August. The Red Bottom Celebration is held in Frazer on the second weekend in June and is a powwow featuring dancing, food, and crafts. The Badlands Celebration follows on the fourth weekend in June in Brockton. August’s calendar includes the Wadopana Celebration on the first weekend in Wolf Point, the Turns Around Celebration on the third weekend in Poplar, and the Fort Kipp Celebration on the fourth weekend in Fort Kipp.

The Roosevelt County Fair offers something different: it is an annual livestock show and auction that brings together farmers and 4-H youth from across the county. It takes place at the County Fairgrounds on the eastern edge of Culbertson, two blocks north of Highway 2.

Nature and Practical Information

Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Roosevelt and Sheridan Counties. A 14-mile driving route passes through grassland and wetland habitats; seasonal route conditions may apply. The drive and the historic sites offer different perspectives on the region, so you can plan according to whether nature or cultural history is your priority.

Fishing is allowed year-round at Medicine Lake and in areas 1, 2, and 3. The regulations brochure dated April 2025 refers to state and refuge regulations. Wolf Point’s Amtrak station is located between the Missouri River and the railroad tracks. Check with the operator for current service information before you travel.

When looking for a hotel in Roosevelt County, you can start by considering the places and dates that will shape your trip: Wolf Point brings together a museum, bridge, sculpture, and Stampede; Poplar offers a museum and Celebration, while Culbertson is associated with a museum and the County Fair.

Discover more destinations: Wolf Point, Culbertson, Poplar, Carbon County, Sheridan County, Sweet Grass, Custer County, Beaverhead.

For the broader travel overview: Montana.