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1953 Map of Big Bend School

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Big Bend School
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Small rural schoolhouses and seasonal watercourses define this mid-century landscape in Chouteau County. Published as part of a Missouri River Basin development program, the area is characterized by deep erosional features like The Sag and Rattlesnake Coulee that cut through the high plains. Human activity is sparse and centered on isolated landmarks such as Big Bend School and Eagle Butte School, suggesting a late homestead-era pattern of life where students traveled significant distances across the open range.

The presence of McCullen Spring and a lonely Windmill indicates the critical importance of water management in this environment. Named terrain features like Chimney Rock and Black Rock served as essential navigational markers for local ranchers navigating the complex drainages of Jackson Coulee and Homestead Coulee. The map preserves the exact locations of these early educational centers and water sources before the consolidation of rural districts.