1912 Map of Missoula

About this map

Missoula serves as the focal point of this regional study, situated at the confluence of the Clark Fork and the Bitterroot River. The landscape is dominated by the sprawling boundaries of the Lolo National Forest and Bitterroot National Forest, where the terrain rises sharply to peaks like St Mary Pk and Diamond Pk. The mapping documents an era when river crossings were still managed by infrastructure like Alberts Ferry and Gilmans Ferry, and the timber industry was active at sites like the Old Sawmill. The Bitterroot Valley is punctuated by small rural schools such as Tuots School, Palm School, and Bass School, reflecting the scattered agricultural and ranching settlements like Gibbons Ranch and Ambrose that relied on the Bitterroot Branch and Northern Pacific railroads for connectivity.