2011 Map of Lighthouse Hill

About this map

Lighthouse Hill overlooks a landscape defined by the intricate hydrology of Valley County, where water management is central to the land's utility. The drainage systems of Rock Creek and South Creek are punctuated by numerous small-scale engineering projects, including the Frank Stuber Number 1 Dam, Brown Cow Dam, and Chambers Dam. These features, along with Lake Elbert, indicate a rural economy focused on water storage and livestock in a territory marked by distinctive geographic breaks such as Line Coulee and Chambers Coulee. Transport in the early 21st century remains tied to a sparse network of local routes like Fossum Rd and Old Theony Rd, which navigate the terrain's natural contours. The map captures a moment in Montana's ranching country where family names are etched into the landscape through the dams and coulees they established.