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1886 Map of Great Falls

Name: 1886 Topographic Map of Great Falls
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1886
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1886

About this map

St. Peter's Mission sits at the base of the mountainous terrain in the southwest, anchoring a landscape defined by the confluence of the Missouri River, Smith River, and Sun River. This 1886 survey, compiled with data from the Northern Transcontinental Survey, documents the region shortly after the founding of Great Falls. Settlement patterns follow the river valleys, with small outposts like Truly, Ulida, and Chestnut appearing along the Missouri.

To the north, the terrain transitions into the high plains of Choteau County, marked by isolated water sources such as Satatine and 28 mile Spring. Military history is represented by Fort Shaw along the Sun River, while the northern boundary is traced by the winding Teton River near Perrysburg. The map captures the territory of Lewis and Clarke and Meagher counties before later political subdivisions, showing the early ranching and mission-era footprint of central Montana.