1954 Map of Hessler Ridge

About this map

The Missouri River forms the northern boundary of this mid-century survey, dividing Phillips and Fergus Counties as it flows past King Island. The landscape is defined by the transition from riverine flats like Mc Nulty Bottoms and Gardipee Bottoms to the uplifted terrain of Hessler Ridge. This area is part of the expansive Fort Peck Game Range, where the natural drainage patterns of Armells Creek and Musselman Downer Coulee have carved intricate coulees into the northern Montana plains. The map reflects a period of focused Missouri River Basin development, showing the complex topography between Galhand Ridge and the Sand Creek drainage. Notable for local history, the sheet documents the various gulches and named bottoms that were critical landmarks for early land use and wildlife management in this remote river corridor.