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1954 Map of Basin

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Basin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

Mining operations and high mountain terrain define this 1954 survey of the Deerlodge National Forest region. The settlement of Basin serves as a focal point along the Boulder River, where the Great Northern railroad tracks parallel the river valley. The landscape is heavily marked by the region's mineral history, featuring a dense concentration of named mines such as the Lily-Orphan Boy Mine, Porphyry Dike Mine, and Bullion Mine. These workings are scattered across the slopes of Bison Mountain, Jack Mountain, and Lee Mountain.

Administrative and seasonal sites are found throughout the timbered reaches, including the Kading Ranger Station and Sunnyside Ranger Station, along with remote outposts like Winters Camp and Newmans Camp. The Continental Divide zigzags through the center of the sheet, separating the drainages of the Little Blackfoot River from the Basin Creek system. This map captures a specific era of Montana's mountain economy, illustrating the transition between active resource extraction and forestry management.