1954 Map of Gallatin Rapids

About this map

The Missouri River cuts through the border of Blaine and Fergus counties, a landscape defined by the treacherous Gallatin Rapids and Dauphin Rapids. Surveyed in the mid-1950s, this area reflects a remote portion of the Missouri River Basin where early petroleum exploration left its mark on the land. To the south of the river, Whiskey Ridge dominates the terrain, overlooking the winding path of Dog Creek. The map documents specific industrial activity at the base of Oil Well Hill, notably identifying the Oil Well (Alex) and Oil Well (Atwood) sites. These markers, alongside topographical landmarks like Jones Cone and Sugarloaf Rock, provide a precise record of the physical and commercial geography of the region before further modern development altered the Missouri's course and the surrounding high plains.