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1895 Map of Three Forks

Name: 1895 Topographic Map of Three Forks
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1932
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1932

About this map

The Missouri River finds its origins at the confluence of three great waterways in this late 19th-century survey of southwestern Montana. The settlement of Three Forks sits at the nexus where the Jefferson River, Madison River, and Gallatin River merge, forming a critical geographic point for early pioneers and surveyors. To the west, the territorial capital era is represented by Virginia City and the nearby mining camps of Nevada, Adobe, and Junction. These settlements, along with the ranching outposts of Gums Ranch and Spring Hill, illustrate a landscape transitioning from the gold rush to established agriculture and rail commerce.

Transportation corridors follow the natural valley contours, most notably the Northern Pacific Railroad as it cuts through Logan, Manhattan, and Belgrade toward Bozeman. In the south, the survey captures the high peaks of the Madison National Forest and Gallatin Forest, including landmarks like Lone Mountain and The Sphinx. Leisure and local industry are visible at Matthews Hot Springs and the silver-mining district around Revenue and Sterling.