1947 Map of Capeneys Lake

About this map

Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge dominates this northern Montana landscape, preserving a vast wetland ecosystem at the intersection of the Missouri Coteau and the glaciated plains. This 1947 survey, later updated with photorevisions, illustrates the complex hydrology of the area, centered around the wide reaches of Medicine Lake and the adjacent Capeneys Lake. The terrain is marked by distinctive glacial features, including the Rock Crossing and the narrow Gaffney Pass, which provide passage through the surrounding shoreline. Evidence of early rural infrastructure and resource exploration is scattered across the Sheridan County and Roosevelt County line, from the solitary Lookout Tower monitoring the refuge to several Drill Holes indicating subsurface investigation. The map also documents the locations of local educational landmarks, including Beverly Sch and Hammond Sch, which served the region's distributed agricultural community.