1948 Map of Medicine Lake

About this map

Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge dominates this mid-century landscape in northeastern Montana, straddling the boundary between Sheridan and Roosevelt Counties. The town of Medicine Lake sits just northwest of the water, near the Medicine Lake Cem, while the Refuge Patrol Trail winds through the wetlands and prairie towards the Refuge Headquarters and a Lookout Tower. The map details the complex geography of the lake itself, identifying landforms like Bruces Island, Youngs Island, and Big Island. To the south, the terrain transitions into a grid of rural sections drained by McCabe Creek, where local landmarks such as Homestead Cem and Zich Sch point to the dispersed homesteading community of the era. Elevation changes are marked by features like Umbrights Hill, providing context for the lake's position within the larger basin.