1954 Map of Billings

Tracing the waterways reveals a network of valley towns like Red Lodge, Columbus, and Laurel that supported the local ranching and mining economies. Notable landmarks such as Pompeys Pillar stand as sentinels along the river, while the sprawling Custer National Forest and Gallatin National Forest provide a sharp contrast to the irrigated plains. This 1950s survey documents the region before the full expansion of the modern interstate system, showing the original alignments of U.S. 10 and U.S. 310 as they navigated the breaks and high plateaus.