A Community’s Tribute
A vibrant new mural now stretches across a brick wall in downtown Fort Benton, celebrating the legacy of the Fort Shaw Indian School girls basketball team. The artwork, unveiled on June 9, 2026, draws the eye of passersby with its bold colors and dynamic composition.
The team, once crowned “World Basket Ball Champions” after capturing the gold at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, remains a point of pride for the region. Their victory marked one of the earliest international basketball triumphs for a Native American squad.
Billings-based artist Rilie Zumbrennan spent weeks perfecting the piece, blending traditional motifs with sweeping brushstrokes to capture the athletes’ energy and cultural heritage. Zumbrennan, known for integrating local stories into her work, said the mural was inspired by archival photographs and oral histories from the community.
The project was funded through Fort Benton’s pilot tourism grant, part of a five-year, $2.75 million initiative aimed at boosting heritage tourism, improving signage, and revitalizing public spaces. The grant supports a range of efforts, from branding and trail development to beautification projects that enhance the town’s visual identity.
The mural joins a growing collection of artworks that dot the town’s streets, each telling a chapter of Fort Benton’s storied past while inviting visitors to explore its present. Local officials say the initiative reflects a broader commitment to preserving history and fostering community pride through public art.