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1903 Map of Helena

Name: 1903 Topographic Map of Helena
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1943
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1943

About this map

The Continental Divide winds through this turn-of-the-century landscape, separating the mining districts of the Helena National Forest from the emerging industrial hubs of the southwest. Surveyed between 1888 and 1899, the map reveals the complex rail network of the Northern Pacific RR and Great Northern RR as they navigate the high passes of the Garnet Range. Large-scale mining operations are evident at Butte and Walkerville, while smaller camps like Marysville, Rimini, and Wickes dot the gulches and peaks.

Strategic military and transit locations are clearly marked, including Ft. Harrison west of the capital and the crucial crossings at Mullan Pass and Priests Pass. Along the Blackfoot River, the settlement of Lincoln anchors the northern reaches, while the southern border captures the convergence of the Anaconda Pacific lines near Silver Bow. This record documents the transition from isolated mountain camps to a connected industrial region before the turn of the century.