1903 Map of Browning

About this map

The Blackfeet Indian Reservation dominates the landscape of this 1903 survey, spanning from the United States Dominion of Canada Boundary Line south toward the mountainous reaches of the Flathead Forest Reserve. The map illustrates the region's hydrography as it was before major irrigation developments, centered on the Hudson Bay Divide. Waterways such as the St. Mary River, which feeds both Upper St. Mary Lake and Lower St. Mary Lake, flow north toward the Arctic, while the complex forks of the Milk River and North Fork Cutbank Creek flow east. Settlement is sparse, with Browning serving as a primary hub along the Great Northern R. R., which skirts the southern edge of the reservation. High peaks like Mt. James and Divide Mt. mark the western transition into steep alpine terrain, providing a look at this territory at the start of the 20th century.