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Mullan

Mullan is a surname of Irish origin and is also used as a toponym in the United States. The name is associated with historical figures and geographic features in the western part of the country, particularly in connection with early exploration and expansion.

John Mullan (1830–1909) was a United States Army officer and explorer who directed the construction of the

Geographically, several places in the United States commemorate John Mullan. Mullan, Idaho, is a small city

Mullan
Road,
a
wagon
road
built
in
the
1850s
to
cross
the
northern
Rocky
Mountains.
The
road
connected
Fort
Benton,
Montana
to
Fort
Walla
Walla,
Washington,
facilitating
movement
and
communication
between
the
Missouri
and
Columbia
River
regions
and
contributing
to
the
settlement
of
the
Inland
Northwest.
The
road
and
the
explorer
gained
recognition
in
historical
accounts
of
westward
expansion,
and
several
places
and
features
in
the
region
bear
his
name.
in
Shoshone
County
named
in
honor
of
the
explorer.
Mullan
Pass
is
a
high
mountain
pass
in
the
northern
Rocky
Mountains
along
the
Interstate
90
corridor,
also
named
after
John
Mullan.
These
toponyms
reflect
the
historical
influence
of
the
Mullan
Road
and
its
builder
on
the
region’s
development
and
memory.