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1953 Map of Pilot Rock

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Pilot Rock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

The Missouri River carves a deep path through Chouteau County in this mid-century survey, revealing a landscape defined by dramatic geological formations and early industrial attempts. Distinctive landmarks like Pilot Rock, Fortress Rock, and White Rocks serve as natural beacons along the river's winding course, while the southern reaches show the remnants of local extraction at the Coal Mine (Aband) near Coal Mine Coulee.

This era of the Missouri River Basin development is characterized by the complex drainage systems that feed into the main channel, including the deeply etched Crooked Coulee and the uniquely named Butcher Knife Can. These features, along with La Barge Rock, illustrate the erosion patterns of the Missouri breaks, providing a clear record of the terrain before later twentieth-century changes altered the accessibility and character of the riverbanks.