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1912 Map of Missoula

Name: 1912 Topographic Map of Missoula
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1942
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1942

About this map

Missoula and its surrounding river valleys serve as the anchor for this pre-war survey, where the Clark Fork and Bitterroot River define the local geography. The landscape reflects an early 20th-century economy driven by transport and extraction, evidenced by the Chicago Milwaukee and Puget Sound RR and Northern Pacific RR corridors. Strategic locations like Ft Missoula and the historic Stevensville settlement illustrate the military and pioneer heritage of the region, while rural life is marked by numerous one-room schools such as Tuots School and Buckhouse School.

Resource development is visible in the rugged western reaches, where the Coppersmith Mine and Otis Sawmill operate near the Lolo National Forest. Before modern bridges dominated the crossings, river transit relied on landmarks like Alberts Ferry and Gilmans Ferry. From the heights of St Mary Pk to the irrigated lands of the Puget Sound Ditch, the map documents a transition from wild timberland to a structured agricultural and industrial hub.