1891 Map of Big Timber

About this map

Big Timber sits at the confluence of the Boulder River and the Yellowstone River, serving as a central hub for ranching and transport in late nineteenth-century Montana. The Northern Pacific Railroad tracks parallel the Yellowstone River, connecting the riverside settlements of Greycliff and Reed Point. This alignment highlights the era's reliance on river valleys for feasible rail corridors through the undulating terrain. A significant portion of the southern landscape is occupied by the Crow Indian Reservation, which is bordered by the Stillwater River and fed by numerous tributaries including Countryman Creek and Jackstone Creek. The presence of the Harrison Ferry on the Yellowstone underscores the critical river crossings required before the widespread construction of highway bridges. The map preserves a network of family-named watercourses like Work Creek and Bridger Creek, which defined the early boundaries of land claims in the region.