Gallatin City, 1863-65 Page 2 of 2 The Three Forks, 1868 Pass
cursor over image to view enlargement of lower center. Panoramic
lithograph by Alfred E. Mathews (1831-1874) Pencil Sketches of
Montana1 Original size, 18-1/4 by 9-3/4 in. he Three Forks is
one of those rare and beautiful localities in nature, that, when
once seen remains indelibly fixed in the memory. The Jefferson,
Madison and Gallatin here mingle their waters, to form the
Missouri River. These three tributaries of the mighty Missouri
meander gracefully through an extensive valley, their banks
fringed with picturesque groups of cottonwood and willow trees
of various growths, with their sparkling waters occasionally
seen through the dense foliage. Far in the distance the
mountains near Virginia City are seen. The Jefferson comes in on
the right, and its course is marked by a dense forest of
cottonwood, nearly a mile in width. The course of the Madison is
first indicated in the distance on the left, and joins the
Jefferson about a mile from the poi