Poplar
Poplar is at the confluence of the Poplar and Missouri rivers. The town grew up around old Fort Peck, which was built to protect cattle ranchers from hostile Indians and was maintained until 1887. But before the bridge was built or the ferry established, the swains from town swam their horses through the spring ice floes on their way to go courting the girls living on the other side. (from Cheney’s
Names on the Face of Montana, Mountain Press Publishing Company)
On May 3, 1805, Lewis and Clark camped near here on the Poplar River about 3.5 miles upstream from where it empties into the Missouri. They named the stream the Porcupine River after porcupine that were found in abundance in the area. The name was later changed to Poplar because of the wide-spread stands of poplar trees on the banks.
Poplar is located on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, and offers plenty of Indian culture. The reservation is home to the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes. The Poplar Museum and Tribal Museum feature tribal history and artifacts. There are many tribal celebrations throughout the year, including the “Wadopanan-Last of the True Powwows.”
