1950 Map of Calais

About this map

The Fort Peck Indian Reservation dominates this northeastern Montana landscape, where the high plains meet the valley of the Missouri River. Following the river's northern bank, the Great Northern railroad provides the primary transportation artery, passing through the small settlement of Calais. The survey reveals a landscape shaped by both natural watercourses and human industry, with the winding paths of Box Elder Creek and Elder Creek carving through the terrain north of the rail line. Evidence of local extraction is found at the Alton Mine and a Gravel Pit near the reservation boundary. The map captures the transition from the upland coulees to the fertile river bottom, illustrating how early 20th-century commerce and infrastructure aligned with the region's physical geography.