At its beginning in the late 1850’s, Dillon was an important shipping point from Utah to the gold fields of Montana. However a few years later Sheep ranching that was introduced at the end of the 1870. A big boost to the economy came when the Utah and Northern railroad reached the city around 1880. Held at the end of August the Boardwalk Arts and Crafts festival showcases the work of local and regional artists at the Beaverhead Museum Depot park. Crystal park is a bit of a trip from Dillon, but well worth it. There are picnic sites with tables here, but the big attraction are the Quartz crystals are scattered through the decomposed granite of the unique 220-acre site. Rockhounding is encouraged by the Forest Service at this park. About 12 miles north of Dillon you will find Beaverhead Rock a primitive park where the Lewis and Clark Expedition stopped around 1805. The parks main feature is a high plains rock resembing a beaver’s head above water, swimming West.