Loading map...

1950 Map of Helena

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Helena
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

The Montana state Capitol stands at the eastern edge of this mid-century survey, anchoring the capital city of Helena as it sits at the base of Mt Helena. The landscape transitions abruptly from the dense urban grid and surrounding valley floor—home to landmarks like the St Joseph Orphan Home, County Hospital, and State Fairground—into the sharp rises of the Helena National Forest. To the west, the foothills are etched with the industrial and civic history of the region, including the Veterans Administration Center at Fort William Henry Harrison and a legacy of mineral extraction at the Dreadnaught Mine and Iron Ridge.

Remote settlements and mountain outposts such as Unionville, Park City, and Sitzer appear tucked along the numerous gulches that drain the heights. The Northern Pacific railroad winds through the terrain, tracing the path of Sevenmile Creek toward the continental divide. This period of development is marked by a blend of established institutions, like the College Place School, and the enduring presence of early mining camps along Grizzly Gulch and Nelson Gulch.