Marias River

Pronounced muh-RYE-uss, the Marias River was named by Meriweather Lewis of the Lewis and Clark Expedition after his cousin Maria Wood. When they first discovered the river on their westward journey in 1805, they weren't at first certain whether it was the main branch of the Missouri River. Lewis explored the river, but the discovery of the Great Falls of the Missouri, at the site of the present city of Great Falls, convinced the expedition that the real Missouri was the southern branch.

The Marias River is formed by the confluence of several streams just south of Cut Bank.

The Most Anticipated Upcoming Montana Events Are: Christmas Stroll and Parade of Lights Great Falls December 4 RUST - Rails Under the Stars Big Sky December 19 Humanities Montana Festival of the Book Missoula continuing thru October 24 Holiday Candlelight Tours of Lewis and Clark Caverns Whitehall December 19 thru December 29 Christmas at Moss Mansion Billings continuing thru January 2

Other upcoming events include: Winter Carnival Red Lodge February 19 thru February 20 Wild Winter Fest Bozeman February 12 thru February 14 Sno-Ball Big Sky January 16 thru January 23 Winter Carnival Sandpoint January 14 thru February 17 Winter Carnival Whitefish February 5 thru February 7