2026 Mullan Road Conference in Helena&nbsp;
<img alt="Text Box:">The Mullan Road Conference will be held in Helena over Labor Day weekend, September 4-6, 2026.&nbsp; The conference focuses on the historic Mullan military wagon road through the greater Helena area; its history, its stories, and the exploration of its impact on the American West.&nbsp; Semi-annual gatherings share research, foster dialogue, and tour the physical remnants of the road that shaped the expansion of the Northwest.
The 624-mile Mullan Road, built between 1859 and 1862, connected the head of Missouri River&nbsp;navigation at Fort Benton in what soon became Montana Territory to the Columbia River at Fort Walla Walla, Washington Territory. Its&nbsp;construction was directed by military engineer Lt. John Mullan, who had also been part of the Northern Pacific Railroad Survey Expedition of 1853-54.&nbsp;

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.&nbsp; As the numbers and variety of travelers increased, so did tensions and at times, conflict.
The conference features a number of notable historians:
·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dr. J. William T. Youngs&nbsp;—&nbsp;The Mullan Road: an Introduction Professor of History, Eastern Washington University—Cheney, WA
·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Holly Claypool —&nbsp;Creating an On-Line Interactive Map of the Mullan Road Research assistant and GIS Technician,&nbsp;Eastern Washington University—Cheney, WA
<ul><li>Kenneth Robison&nbsp;—&nbsp;Crossing the Rockies in ‘61 on the Mullan Road Historian, Author, Montana Heritage Keeper—Great Falls and Fort Benton, MT</li><li>Connie Constan —&nbsp;The Benton Lake Mullan Road Segment from an Archaeological Perspective Executive Director, The History Museum &amp; Research Center—Great Falls, MT</li><li>Jon Axline —&nbsp;A Tale of Three Mountain Passes Historian/Cultural Resources Specialist, Environmental Services Bureau, Montana Department of Transportation—Helena MT</li></ul>
<ul><li>Brenda Wahler—&nbsp;John Mullan's Swan Song: The Last Spike of the Northern Pacific Author and Attorney—Helena, MT</li><li>Jake Rehm —&nbsp;The Colville–Walla Walla Military Road—A Major Inland Northwest Thoroughfare Full Lecturer, Eastern Washington University—Cheney, WA</li><li>BANQUET KEYNOTE — Dr. J. William T. Youngs&nbsp; —&nbsp;'Ships of the Desert'—and of the Mountains: Camels on the Mullan Road and Throughout the Frontier West</li></ul>

Conference highlights include:
·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Friday, September 4, evening reception at the Lewis and Clark County Historical Society Museum
·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Saturday September 5, conference and banquet at the Montana Historical Society's NEW Heritage Center&nbsp;
·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sunday, September 6, Mullan Road Tour - North Helena Valley to Sieben Ranch
Registration for the conference is only $110 and includes the Friday reception; Saturday breakfast, lunch and banquet; and Sunday bus tour with box lunch in addition to the great speakers.&nbsp; Please register by August 28, 2026&nbsp; at <a href="https://mullanroadconference.wixsite.com/mullanroad" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://mullanroadconference.wixsite.com/mullanroad</a>.
A special thank you to our fiscal sponsor:&nbsp; Preserve Montana; our event sponsors:&nbsp; The Foundation for Montana History and the Montana Historical Society; and our generous donors:&nbsp; Ken Robison and Dr. Bill Youngs.&nbsp; See you on the Mullan Road!

Local Event: 2026 Mullan Road Conference

Lewis and Clark County

Helena

Montana

2026 Mullan Road Conference

2026 Mullan Road Conference in Helena 
The Mullan Road Conference will be held in Helena over Labor Day weekend, September 4-6,...

Helena Walking Mall

Helena SeptemberFest: Gulch Goes Galactic returns September 11–13, 2026, bringing three days of family-friendly fun, live entertainment, and community celebration to downtown Helena. Now in its sixth year, the event features the wildly popular Soap Box Derby, Derby Car Calcutta, the 1K for United Way Donut Fun Run, live music, giant balloon sculptures, a UFO scavenger hunt, and more. With thousands of people expected downtown throughout the weekend, SeptemberFest is a great opportunity for residents and visitors to experience Helena at its best.
SeptemberFest is a community celebration with proceeds benefiting the United Way of the Lewis &amp; Clark Area. The weekend offers something for all ages, from cheering on derby racers and exploring downtown activities to enjoying live music and family entertainment. With parties at The Rathskeller and the Montana Club on Friday, and a special cosmic brownie ice cream at the Big Dipper, there's sure to be something for everyone! Registration for the 1K&nbsp;for United Way Donut Fun Run is now open. We invite community event partners and visitors from across the region to join us for Helena SeptemberFest: Gulch Goes Galactic and help make this year’s celebration the biggest yet!

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The Blacktail Ranch

Join Brenda Westwood, Master Equine Gestaltist, of Horse Sense Healing, LLC for this all-inclusive, magical experience in the middle of the wilderness where you will be supported to find freedom from those old limiting stories. We will explore an ice-age cave as you explore what lies in the depths of you, ready to be acknowledged and released. Perhaps it’s even an ancestral story you no longer want to carry. Make room for new, empowering beliefs! We all have parts of our stories that get in the way of life today, sometimes outside of our awareness. Imagine finding freedom from reactivity, from lack of confidence, from the inner critic and more.
This all-inclusive retreat includes:
Safe and sacred space to grow, heal &amp; play
Equine Gestalt Group Coaching
Delicious, homecooked meals Sunday evening through Thursday lunch. 
4 nights lodging
3 trail rides: Beginners to advanced riding abilities welcome. 
Evening campfires 
Cave tour and meditation
Museum Tour
Connection with nature, horses and other women
Swimming hole if temperatures allow
There is room for only 8 women, 21 and over, for this unique experience! 
Contact Brenda to register at 406-261-6191 or email brenda@horsesensehealing.com. For more information check events on the website.

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