Fort Shaw is situated on the Sun River and was built in 1867. It was first named Camp Reynolds, then changed in honor of a Civil War soldier, Colonel Robert Shaw. It was established as a military post in 1876, when General Gibbon rode out from Fort Shaw to join Perry and Custer. Fort Shaw has been recognized as the 'Queen of Montana's Posts' because one of the buildings that was 125 feet long. It was used as a theater for professional stage performances. The first post office was established in 1867, and closed in 1891. It was reopened in 1902 with Nathaniel Pope as postmaster. Fort Shaw's military post was used as an Indian school after being abandoned in 1890. At later times the Great Northern Railroad came through and Fort Shaw became part of the Vaughn-Augusta branch.
Fort Shaw is located in north-central Montana, 24 miles west of Great Falls on Montana Highway 200.