DescriptionOn June 8, 1805, Capt. Meriwether Lewis named this Maria’s River, after his cousin Maria Wood. Initially, Lewis and his party thought this northern tributary of the Missouri might be the mighty river’s main stem. Lewis described it as a “noble river; one destined to become . . . an object of contention between the 2 great powers of America and Great Britin.” For an unknown reason, the spelling and pronunciation changed from Maria’s to Marias (pronounced “Ma-RI-as”). The river is formed by the confluence of the Medicine River, Birch Creek, and Cut Bank Creek.Personal NamesLewis, MeriwetherWood, MariaOther Name(s)Maria's RiverContributing InstitutionMontana Historical Society Library and ArchivesGeolocation[1]
