1950 Map of Hebgen Dam

About this map

Hebgen Lake serves as the focal point for this survey, which captures the high-country landscape of the Gallatin Range and the Madison National Forest just before the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake. The map illustrates a developed recreational and ranching economy along the Madison River corridor, featuring landmarks like the Beaver Creek Ranger Station, Campfire Lodge, and Halford Camp. High-altitude terrain is meticulously detailed, from the peaks of Sentinel Peak and Hilgard Peak down to the basins of Little Sunlight Basin and Sage Basin. A network of pack trails, including a notably long Pack Trail through the Gallatin National Forest, connects isolated ranching operations like Olifee Ranch, Stagger Ranch, and Shaw Ranch, providing a window into the remote agricultural and wilderness management of mid-century Montana.