1969 Map of Discovery Butte

About this map

The Marias River carves a deeply eroded valley along the western edge of this 1969 landscape, where the high plains of Chouteau County break into complex breaks and coulees. The terrain is defined by prominent high points including Black Butte and the namesake Discovery Butte in the southwest corner. Human activity in this rural expanse is sparse, marked primarily by the Bessette Ranch and several remote Landing Strips that suggest the necessity of light aircraft for navigating these isolated grazing lands. Extensive coulee systems such as O'Halon Coulee and Sixmile Coulee drain the eastern plateau, illustrating the dramatic transition from flat upland benches to the rugged river breaks. This survey captures a moment in the late 1960s when the region remained a domain of wide-open ranching operations and natural landforms.