Founded in 1983, the Portage Route Chapter is one of the oldest chapters of the Lewis and Clark Trail Alliance, a national organization who are the Keepers of the Story and Stewards of the Trail.  The Portage Route Chapter is headquartered in Great Falls, Montana, and maintains a membership of about 50. The Alliance's home office is also headquartered in Great Falls, at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, as is their William P. Sherman Library and Archives.
    
The Chapter’s objectives are to educate the public and its membership about the Expedition and work to preserve the Trail in this area.  The Chapter prides itself on presenting quality programs and projects with our partners, as well as offering field trips and tours to sites along the Trail.  The Chapter works to accurately identify, develop, and maintain interpretive sites and signage for appropriate locations in the area.
    
We trace our roots back to the mid-1800s when travelers through the area made comments in their reports, journals and letters about things they saw that the Expedition had written about.  Since those earliest times, other visitors have included artists and writers who have recorded their time spent in "the land of Lewis and Clark."

 

  

The Portage Route Chapter is registered with the IRS as a 501-c-3 nonprofit, and is also a Montana nonprofit corporation. It holds its annual meeting in September when members of the Board of Directors are elected from the membership. The Board then elects the officers at the September meeting.  Director terms are for 3 years. 
 
Directors and officers for the 2024-2025 year are:  Carol Bronson, President; Jay Russell and Ezekiel Leeds, Co-Vice Presidents;  Norm Anderson, Secretary: Jo Ann Wright, Treasurer; Paul Wages, Channing Hartelius, and Clare Roehm are directors.

The Portage Route Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Alliance (formerly known as the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation) is developing a new website at www.portageroutechapter.org.    We will let you know when it is live!  

If you have any questions about the Lewis and Clark Trail in Central Montana, just contact us!