1958 Map of Birdseye Spring

About this map

Rosebud Creek and its complex network of seasonal drainages define this stretch of Montana ranch land in the late 1950s. The landscape is characterized by deeply eroded coulees and breaks, where the water table is accessible through features like Birdseye Spring. This 1:24,000 scale survey, conducted as part of the Department of the Interior program for the development of the Missouri River Basin, reveals a territory managed for grazing and transit long before significant modernization. Watercourses such as East Thompson Creek, Skunk Creek, and Eagle Creek carve the topography, while established paths like Trail Creek and various jeep trails suggest the movement of livestock and people through the Big Horn backcountry. The map provides an essential reference for understanding the rural hydrology and land use patterns of the era.