1893 Map of Big Timber

About this map

Big Timber serves as the central hub of this 1889 survey, situated where the Boulder River joins the Yellowstone River. The landscape is defined by the early infrastructure of the Northern Pacific Railroad, which mirrors the river’s path through the valley. At a time when bridges were sparse, the Harrison Ferry provided a critical crossing point between Big Timber and Greycliff. The map details a complex network of drainage basins, including Bridger Creek and the Stillwater River to the south, and Sweet Grass Creek to the north. These watercourses and their many named tributaries, such as Jackstone Creek and Countryman Creek, illustrate the topographic challenges faced by early Montana settlers and railroad engineers as they established ranching and transit corridors across this part of the state.