Founded as a fur trading post at the head of navigation of the Missouri River, it was one of the nation's largest inland ports prior to the advent of the railroad, playing a pivotal role in the development of the American and Canadian West.

It was named for Senator Thomas Hart Benton, and was originally little more than a palisaded fort, with the facilities of the trading firm within.

Its proximity to Canada meant that goods and supplies also traveled north, helping fuel the growth of cities such as Edmonton, Alberta.

Goods were loaded and unloaded on the levee, and merchants managing the trade had their business on Front Street, with homes nearby.

[2] The historic district extends along Front Street, from the 1200 to 1900 blocks, and includes the levee along the river bank, and the 1888 Fort Benton Bridge, built in an attempt by the local merchants to maintain the city's influence as the steamboat trade declined.