1959 Map of Bearmouth

About this map

The Clark Fork corridor serves as the primary artery through this mountainous landscape, carrying the competing lines of the Northern Pacific and the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroads. Centered on the small settlement of Bearmouth, the terrain rises steeply into the Lolo National Forest and the Deerlodge National Forest. This 1959 field check documents a region defined by its rugged topography and transportation history, including the path of the Old Military Road winding along the river. In the southern reaches of the map, dredge tailings along the lower creeks and family-named landmarks like Harvey Cabin and Conn Ranch offer specific points of interest for genealogists tracing early Montana settlement patterns. The map captures the interface between the high peaks of the John Long Mountains and the developed rail and pipeline infrastructure of the valley floor.