When the Lewis and Clark Expedition came up the Missouri River in 1805 Capt. Clark named the Judith River for one of the girls he left behind him.

Southwest of here is the Pig-eye Basin and beyond that, in the Little Belt Mountains, is Yogo Gulch. Yogo sapphires are mined there. They are the deepest colored sapphires found in the world and the only ones mined from a lode. When combined with Montana nuggets they make a mighty pretty and unique combination for rings, cuff links, pins and similar fancy doodads. Oriental, as well as all other Montana sapphires are found in placer ground.

The Judith Basin country was the early-day stomping ground of Charley M. Russell, famous and beloved Montana cowboy artist. Charley is now camped somewhere across the Great Divide where the grass is good and there aren’t any fences.

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