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1959 Map of Polaris

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Polaris
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Elkhorn Hot Springs and the surrounding high-altitude terrain of the Beaverhead National Forest define this mid-century survey of Beaverhead County. The map captures a mountain economy built on both extraction and emerging recreation, with the Rainy Mountain Ski Area established near a cluster of significant mining operations like the Old Elkhorn Mine, Magna Mine, and Polaris Mine.

Lower in the valleys, the rural life of the era is preserved through markers like the Polaris Sch and the Old Pinkerton Homestead. The network of jeep trails and telephone lines connects remote outposts such as Swanson Cabin and the Circle-S Ranch. Industrial remains are evident at the Tungsten Mill and several gravel pits, showing the diverse uses of the land before the modernization of the wilderness areas. The topography is anchored by prominent peaks including Baldy Mountain and Comet Mountain.