Welcome to Radersburg, Montana

Radersburg is southwest of Townsend and named for Ruben Rader, a large landowner who donated the property for the townsite. Radersburg is an old mining town which sprang up in 1866 when John Keating opened his Keating Mine; the town boomed the following year when the East Pacific claim was discovered north of town. The two-story Freemont Hotel, made of squared logs and square nails was described as "a first-class hotel" in 1871.

Radersburg was the birthplace of movie star Myrna Loy, whose real name was Myrna Williams. (from Cheney's Names on the Face of Montana, Mountain Press Publishing Company) Nicknamed "The Queen of the Movies," Myrna Loy was a glamorous classic Hollywood star during the early years of film and appeared in a total of 129 motion pictures.

Radersburg is located near the Elkhorn Mountains, which are Helena National Forest. This area provides ample opportunities for outdoor recreation: hiking, backpacking, camping, rental cabins, and snowmobiling.

Lewis and Clark's upriver passage from the Gates of the Mountains to the three forks of the Missouri River was maddeningly slow. Beginning on the south end of Canyon Ferry Reservoir to the Toston Dam, the Corps of Discovery set up nine campsites along this short distance in their travels between July 21 and July 25. Those sites were located near present day Canyon Ferry Dam.

Canyon Ferry has become one of Montana's foremost recreation areas. The reservoir covers 25 miles and there are 24 recreation sites maintained by the Bureau of Reclamation. There is east access to the reservoir from US Highway 12 east of Helena or just north of Townsend.