1954 Map of Lander Crossing

About this map

Missouri River currents dominate this mid-century survey of the rugged breaks between Chouteau and Cascade counties. The landscape is defined by deeply eroded drainage patterns where numerous coulees, such as Black Coulee and Middle Coulee to the north and Huntley Coulee further south, carve through the high plains to meet the river valley. The namesake Lander Crossing sits along the southern reaches of the map, situated where Highwood Creek winds through the bottomlands before joining the larger river system. This map illustrates the intersection of water and terrain during the development of the Missouri River Basin project, capturing a sparsely populated area where cattle ranching and early infrastructure are marked by features like Windmill 3353 and a localized Gravel Pit. The precise topographical work from 1952 aerial photography reveals the complex elevation changes across Tueverson Coulee and the surrounding benchlands.