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1954 Map of Great Falls

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Great Falls
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

Great Falls serves as the industrial and transportation nexus for North-Central Montana in this mid-1950s survey. The city's growth is tied to the Missouri River, where the Anaconda Wire Plant and Rainbow Dam indicate the era's reliance on hydroelectric power and heavy industry. Military presence is prominent with the Great Falls Air Force Base located just east of the city, while Gore Hill Municipal Airport anchors the western plateau.

The surrounding landscape reveals a contrast between the irrigated agricultural plains, noted by the Greenfield Main Canal, and the high terrain of the Highwood Mountains. Small settlements such as Fort Benton, Sand Coulee, and Black Eagle are connected by a dense network of the Great Northern and Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroads. Conservation areas like the Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge and the Highwood Game Preserve reflect the early management of the region's wilderness and water resources.