The waters of the Beaverhead River opened a southern gateway to Montana used by an ancient Indian trail, the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805-1806, Father DeSmet in 1840, the Great Beaverhead Wagon Toll Road from 1866 to 1880, and the first railroad into Montana, the Utah and Northern, in 1880. On this site stood the old toll house, toll gate, and bridge nearby, as well as Sturgis Post Office and Junction in 1868, Ryan Post Office in 1869, and the T.M. Barrett Store in 1874.