1957 Map of Illinois Peak

About this map

Mining operations and major rail lines define the divide between Montana and Idaho in this mid-century survey. The northern edge of the map is dominated by the Clark Fork valley, a critical transportation corridor carrying both the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific and the Northern Pacific railroads. This infrastructure supported a landscape of extraction, evidenced by several named claims scattered across the steep drainages, including the Amador Mine, Golden Sunset Mine, and Gildersleeve Mine. The map reveals a complex administrative boundary where Lolo National Forest, St Joe National Forest, and Clearwater National Forest converge. High-altitude landmarks like Illinois Peak and Blacktail Mountain anchor the terrain, while small alpine waters such as Bonanza Lakes and Diamond Lake punctuate the high ridges of the Mineral and Shoshone county lines.