1959 Map of Centennial Mountain

About this map

The Rocky Boy Indian Reservation occupies the northern half of this landscape, where the northern reaches of the Bearpaw Mountains rise from the surrounding plains. The terrain is defined by a series of prominent summits and ridges, including Centennial Mountain, Table Butte, and the Forty-nine Butte along the Hill Co Chouteau Co line. This 1950s survey documents a landscape of traditional ranching and resource extraction, notably featuring the Rocky Boy Mine and other unnamed mines tucked within the drainage of Coal Mine Coulee. Below the reservation boundary, the land opens into a complex network of seasonal watercourses such as Godfrey Creek, Little Sandy Creek, and Eagle Creek, which navigate around isolated landmarks like Ryan Butte and Flying A Butte. These features trace the transition from high mountain slopes to the more level cattle country characteristic of central Montana.