1954 Map of Grand Island

About this map

The Missouri River carves a deep path through the broken badlands and breaks of central Montana, defining the boundary between Phillips and Fergus Counties. This 1954 field survey illustrates a largely unpopulated landscape characterized by high-elevation landforms like Antelope Ridge, Barnes Ridge, and Knox Ridge that overlook the winding river channel. Within the Fort Peck Game Range, the river is punctuated by notable features like the namesake Grand Island and the smaller Lower Two Calf Island. Along the shoreline, low-lying areas such as Kendall Bottoms provide rare level ground against the surrounding coulees. Drainage patterns are well-defined by Hideaway Coulee, Reed Coulee, and Two Calf Creek, which feed into the main waterway. This map is particularly notable for documenting the Upper Two Calf I Landing Strip, a remote aviation point in a region dominated by wilderness and difficult topography.