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 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.

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