1937 Shope Pictorial Map of Montana

This is a 1937 Irvin Shope pictorial map of Montana. The map depicts the state from Idaho to the Dakotas and from Canada to Wyoming, including Yellowstone National Park. Highly detailed, myriad captions, vignettes, and other illustrations populate the map, creating a visual representation of Montana's history. Most of the captions recount tales of the Wild West, outlaws, vigilantes, and frontier violence and 'justice' abound. Others inform the viewer of more conventional milestones, such as the location of the first Territorial Legislature or that Virginia City was the first capital of the Montana Territory. Numerous cities and towns of all sizes are labeled, including Helena, Missoula, and Bozeman. Vignettes frame the map, illustrating 'the major frontier industries: trapping, mining, cattle and sheep raising, and lumbering'. A legend along the bottom border explains the various notations utilized on the map.

Publication History

This map was created by Irvin Shope in 1936 and published by the Montana State Highway Department in 1937.