TOSTON, Montana Community Information

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  Toston Dam

  Photo courtesy: Toston Dam

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  Toston Bridge

  Photo courtesy: MTOT

Toston, on the banks of the Missouri River, was named for Thomas Toston, an early homesteader and the first postmaster. Toston built the Toston Ferry. The giant Toston Smelting Company, which operated 1883-1899, brought a short-lived prosperity to Toston. Six-horse teams pulled loads of ore from Radersburg, and coal from the Big Springs area. Later, the Riverside Stock Farm, which featured pure-bred stock and racehorses, grew from three thousand to eleven thousand acres and include fancy buildings and a racetrack. (from Cheney's Names on the Face of Montana, Mountain Press Publishing Company)

Toston is south of Canyon Ferry Reservoir. Lewis and Clark's passage of the river from the Gates of the Mountains to the three forks took place in the Townsend and Missouri River Valley areas. Beginning on the south end of Canyon Ferry Reservoir to the Toston Dam, Lewis and Clark set up nine campsites along this short distance in their travels between July 21 and July 25, 1805.

Toston Dam Recreation Site is located in southwestern Montana, on the Missouri River mid-way between Helena and Three Forks. At an elevation of 4,000 feet, the recreation area encompasses 5 acres. The recreation area has facilities for camping, picnicking, and boating.