Bozeman Magazine

This lecture will be about the remarkable Captain John J. Roe and the April 1, 1865 wreck of the steamboat Bertrand. The story of the Bertrand is inextricably linked to the Diamond "R" Transportation Company, which provided freight delivery to Fort Benton, Helena, Virginia City, and other gold mining towns. In 1968, more than 300,000 artifacts were excavated from the wreck, most of which were in a remarkable state of preservation. Join archaeologist and author Ronald Switzer for a fascinating presentation on the Bertrand's cargo and what it tells us about the history of Montana's river commerce.