Chief Mountain Border Station and Quarters facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chief Mountain Border Station and Quarters
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North facade
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 Location in Montana
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Babb, Montana |
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| Area | 1.4 acres (0.57 ha) |
| Architect | Paul A. Brown (Customs station) |
| Architectural style | National Park Service Rustic |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000744 |
| Added to NRHP | May 20, 2008 |
The Chief Mountain Border Station and Quarters is a special building. It sits right on the line between Canada and the United States. This spot is in Glacier County, Montana.
You can find it on Montana Highway 17. This station is open only during certain times of the year. It mostly helps tourists traveling between Glacier National Park in Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada.
The station gets its name from Chief Mountain. This is a very tall peak nearby. The U.S. government owns this station. It is run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The station is also inside Glacier National Park. It is a great example of the National Park Service Rustic style. This means it looks like it fits in with nature. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
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What is the Chief Mountain Border Station?
The Chief Mountain International Highway was finished in 1936. The border station itself was built a few years later, in 1939. A. Paul Brown from the National Park Service designed it.
The building has one and a half stories. It is made of wood. It sits on a strong foundation of rough stone. The bottom part of the building uses large posts and beams. The top part uses lighter wood frames. Today, the outside of the station is covered in aluminum siding. This siding is made to look like old wooden planks. The roof was once green. Now, it has faded to a natural gray color. There are four stone chimneys on the building. Much of the original inside of the building is still there. However, most of the light fixtures have been changed.
How is the Building Designed?
The main building is built into a hillside. This means it slopes away from the road. The building is shaped a bit like the letter "T". Its roof stretches out over the road. This forms a large covered area called a porte-cochère. This is a fancy way to say a covered driveway.
On the main floor, facing the road, there is a lobby. Here, you will find desks for immigration and customs officers. The back part of the building has two small apartments. Each apartment has one bedroom. The second floor has two studio apartments. It also has another one-bedroom apartment. The basement holds utility rooms. These are for things like heating and water. There are also holding cells in the basement. These are for people who might need to be held for a short time.
Near the main building is a garage. This garage has special bays for inspecting vehicles. It even has pits. These pits let officers look at the underside of cars and trucks.
Why is the Station Historic?
The Chief Mountain Customs Station is very important. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 20, 2008. This listing helps protect the building. It recognizes its special design and history.
When is the Station Open?
The Chief Mountain border crossing is not open all year. It usually opens from mid to late May. It then closes in late September or October. It is only open during daylight and evening hours. The exact opening and closing times depend on the weather.
Images for kids
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Chief Mountain Border Station
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