Fort Fizzle Letterbox LbNA #4939 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jul 25, 2003 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Lolo |
| County: | Missoula |
| State: | Montana |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | Raynebeau |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Apr 3, 2005 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFaFFFFFaaaaaa |
| Last edited: | Jul 25, 2003 |
**Missing as of July 10, 2005. We will check and update.**
Directions: Drive 8 miles south of Missoula, Montana on Highway 93 to the town of Lolo. Turn right onto Highway 12. Drive 4.5 miles west of Lolo to Fort Fizzle Historic Site Picnic Area. The site will be on your left. The highway is a double-lane paved road that follows Lolo Creek and parallels the historic Lolo Trail once used by the Nez Perce, Salish and Kootenai tribes, and Lewis & Clark.
Facilities: Restrooms (wheelchair accessible), picnic facilities (also wheelchair accessible), historic and interpretive information. Bring your own drinking water.
Attractions: Interpretive signs. Accessible trail to fishing access.
Fees: No fees required for this picnic area
Reservations: Reservations required for groups of 20 or more (call 329-3814).
Open: Yearlong
Altitude: 3300' elevation
History of Fort Fizzle: In 1877, the U.S. military sent soldiers from Missoula to Lolo Creek to stop the Nez Perce Indians from passing. To block the Nez Perce from entering Montana, captain Rawn, 7th Infantry, with thirty enlisted men and four officers from nearby Fort Missoula, entrenched themselves behind log breastworks in a small opening along the Lolo Creek drainage adjacent to the Lolo Trail. About 150 settlers joined the soldiers. The 750 Nez Perce, with their 1000+ horses, were camped about five miles to the west.
At a meeting of the Nez Perce chiefs and Army officers, the Nez Perce made four things very clear: they had no intention of molesting settlers or property; they wanted to travel in peace; they would not surrender their horses, arms and ammunition; and they were not ready to return to the hostile environment in Idaho.
Soon after the meeting, many settler volunteers returned home. Some reports say they were convinced that the Nez Perce wanted a peaceful trip through the valley.
Captain Rawn had clear orders. He said the Nez Perce could not pass; however, the barricade failed when the Nez Perce, with their horses and possessions, climbed a steep ravine behind the ridge to the north and bypassed the soldiers. This maneuver earned White Bird the nickname of the "Indian Hannibal" and the previously unnamed barricade became a ridiculed "Fort Fizzle."
Clues to the Fort Fizzle Letterbox: Take the wheelchair accessible path to Lolo Creek. You will see a small gravel path that runs along the creek. Take this path downstream for approximately 28 paces. To the left of this trail, you will see a large pine tree with a scar at the base. The Fort Fizzle Letterbox is behind this tree under a rock and some debris. If you can see the grave of someone's kitty six feet north of the tree you are in the right place.
Directions: Drive 8 miles south of Missoula, Montana on Highway 93 to the town of Lolo. Turn right onto Highway 12. Drive 4.5 miles west of Lolo to Fort Fizzle Historic Site Picnic Area. The site will be on your left. The highway is a double-lane paved road that follows Lolo Creek and parallels the historic Lolo Trail once used by the Nez Perce, Salish and Kootenai tribes, and Lewis & Clark.
Facilities: Restrooms (wheelchair accessible), picnic facilities (also wheelchair accessible), historic and interpretive information. Bring your own drinking water.
Attractions: Interpretive signs. Accessible trail to fishing access.
Fees: No fees required for this picnic area
Reservations: Reservations required for groups of 20 or more (call 329-3814).
Open: Yearlong
Altitude: 3300' elevation
History of Fort Fizzle: In 1877, the U.S. military sent soldiers from Missoula to Lolo Creek to stop the Nez Perce Indians from passing. To block the Nez Perce from entering Montana, captain Rawn, 7th Infantry, with thirty enlisted men and four officers from nearby Fort Missoula, entrenched themselves behind log breastworks in a small opening along the Lolo Creek drainage adjacent to the Lolo Trail. About 150 settlers joined the soldiers. The 750 Nez Perce, with their 1000+ horses, were camped about five miles to the west.
At a meeting of the Nez Perce chiefs and Army officers, the Nez Perce made four things very clear: they had no intention of molesting settlers or property; they wanted to travel in peace; they would not surrender their horses, arms and ammunition; and they were not ready to return to the hostile environment in Idaho.
Soon after the meeting, many settler volunteers returned home. Some reports say they were convinced that the Nez Perce wanted a peaceful trip through the valley.
Captain Rawn had clear orders. He said the Nez Perce could not pass; however, the barricade failed when the Nez Perce, with their horses and possessions, climbed a steep ravine behind the ridge to the north and bypassed the soldiers. This maneuver earned White Bird the nickname of the "Indian Hannibal" and the previously unnamed barricade became a ridiculed "Fort Fizzle."
Clues to the Fort Fizzle Letterbox: Take the wheelchair accessible path to Lolo Creek. You will see a small gravel path that runs along the creek. Take this path downstream for approximately 28 paces. To the left of this trail, you will see a large pine tree with a scar at the base. The Fort Fizzle Letterbox is behind this tree under a rock and some debris. If you can see the grave of someone's kitty six feet north of the tree you are in the right place.