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1893 Map of Big Snowy Mountain

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of Big Snowy Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1893
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1893

About this map

Big Snowy Mountain dominates this late-nineteenth-century landscape, serving as a massive topographical anchor at the intersection of Fergus and Meagher counties. This survey, conducted by the Northern Transcontinental Survey between 1882 and 1887, reveals a sparsely settled territory where water sources and mountain passes dictated the early human footprint. Significant landmarks like Half Moon Pass and Judith Gap appear as critical transit points through the high terrain, while small outposts like Ubet, Filbrook, and Oka mark the early ranching and trading hubs of the region.

The drainage patterns of the Judith River and Musselshell River systems illustrate how the hydrology supported the nascent homesteading era. To the south, the Cayuse Hills and the distinctively named Locomotive Butte rise above the plains of Yellowstone and Park counties. The map preserves many early place names and geographical features, such as Hopleys Hole and Swimming Woman Creek, which reflect the specific local vernacular of the Montana frontier before more intensive development arrived.