{{Short description|Historic rock formation in Montana, United States of America}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Beaverhead Rock-Lewis and Clark Expedition | nrhp_type = | image = "The overland stage road between Ogden and Helena crossing the Beaver Head River at Point of Rocks ... by means of a pla - NARA - 520085.tif | caption = Overland Trail bridge across Beaverhead River, with Beaverhead Rock—"Point of Rocks" in background (1871).<ref>{{citation |contribution-url=http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/lewisandclark/site14.htm |contribution=Beaverhead Rock State Park, Montana |title=Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings |encyclopedia=Lewis and Clark: Historic Places Associated with Their Transcontinental Exploration (1804-06) |year=2004 |orig-year=1975 |publisher=National Park Service |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001125724/http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/lewisandclark/site14.htm |archive-date=2009-10-01 }}</ref> | location = Madison County, Montana | nearest_city = Dillon, Montana | coordinates = {{coord|45|23|11|N|112|27|35|W|display=inline,title}} <ref name=gnis>{{cite gnis|768653|Beaverhead Rock}}</ref> | locmapin = Montana#USA | area = | built = 1805 (expedition) | website = [https://fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/beaverhead-rock/ Official website] | architect = | architecture = | added = February 11, 1970 | refnum = 70000359 }}
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: 250px|right --> '''Beaverhead Rock''', also known as '''Point of Rocks''', is a rock formation overlooking the Beaverhead River in Montana protected as '''Beaverhead Rock State Park'''. It is located on Montana State Highway 41, {{convert|12|mi|spell=in}} south of Twin Bridges, Madison County. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.<ref name=npsgallery/> The site may be viewed and photographed from a distance, but is not directly accessible.<ref name=mfwp/>
==History== Beaverhead Rock is a rock feature identified in 1805 by Sacagawea, during the Lewis and Clark Expedition, as a landmark not distant from the summer retreat of her nation. According to the Journal of Lewis:<ref name=nps/> <blockquote>The Indian woman recognized the point of a high plain to our right which she informed us was not very distant from the summer retreat of her nation on a river beyond the mountains which runs to the west. This hill she says her nation calls the Beaver's Head, from a conceived resemblance of its figure to the head of that animal...as it is now all important with us to meet with those people as soon as possible I determined to proceed tomorrow with a small party...and pass the mountains to the Columbia; and down that river until I found the Indians...without horses we shall be obliged to leave a great part of our stores...</blockquote>
==References== <references> <ref name=mfwp>{{cite web |url=https://stateparks.mt.gov/beaverhead-rock/ |title=Beaverhead Rock State Park |publisher=Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks |access-date=June 14, 2018}}</ref>
<ref name=npsgallery>{{cite web |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/70000359 |title=Beaverhead Rock-Lewis and Clark Expedition |work=NPGallery |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=June 14, 2018}}</ref>
<ref name=nps>{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/lewisandclark/bea.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070917121213/http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/LewisandClark/bea.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 17, 2007 |title=Beaverhead Rock |series=Lewis and Clark Expedition |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=June 14, 2018}}</ref> </references>
==External links== *[https://stateparks.mt.gov/beaverhead-rock/ Beaverhead Rock State Park] Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
{{Protected areas of Montana}} {{NRHP in Madison County, Montana}} {{authority control}}
Category:Landforms of Madison County, Montana Category:Rock formations of Montana Category:State parks of Montana Category:Protected areas of Madison County, Montana Category:National Register of Historic Places in Madison County, Montana Category:Natural features on the National Register of Historic Places in Montana Category:Lewis and Clark Expedition Category:Native American history of Montana