1948 Map of Portage

About this map

The Missouri River carves a deep, winding canyon through this portion of Montana, creating a dramatic break in the high plains just northeast of the city of Great Falls. This late-1940s landscape is defined by the heavy infrastructure of the river and the rail lines that parallel it, including the Rainbow Dam and the nearby State Fish Hatchery. The presence of the Great Falls Army Air Force Base at the southern edge of the sheet reflects the era's military footprint, while the State Deaf & Dumb School serves as a notable local landmark. Smaller agricultural and transport hubs like Portage, Salem, and Sheffels dot the territory, often situated near the Great Northern or Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific tracks. These small settlements and their associated schools, like Roosevelt Sch and Salem Sch, provide a clear record of rural social centers before the consolidation of later decades.