{"product_id":"old-pictorial-map-of-montana-rockies-national-forests-by-lacasse-1940-glacier-np-missoula-butte-flathead-lk-lolo","title":"Old Pictorial Map of Montana Rockies National Forests by LaCasse, 1940: Glacier NP, Missoula, Butte, Flathead Lk, Lolo","description":"\u003cp\u003eIssued in 1940 by John B. LaCasse for the Missoula Chamber of Commerce, “In the National Forests of the Montana Rockies” is an exuberant invitation to the outdoors at the high tide of early American auto tourism. Stretching from the Salmon River country north to Canada, and from Coeur d’Alene east to Glacier National Park, Butte, and Deer Lodge, it gathers the region’s mountains, rivers, and valleys into a single, richly narrated landscape. Roads thread between ranger stations, dude ranches, and lakes, guiding travelers to the parks, towns, and passes that shaped the Northern Rockies. As a promotional guide, it captures a moment when western communities courted visitors with promises of fresh air, clear water, and boundless recreation—an ethos rendered here with wit, clarity, and undeniable charm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLaCasse’s ornate pictorial style—whimsical yet meticulous—makes the map as delightful to read as it is informative. Bears, deer, and flights of migrating geese animate the forests, while caricatured anglers, campers, and motorists punctuate riverbanks and roadside turnouts. Vignettes mark local flora, fauna, and historical curiosities, and an artistic legend unpacks the symbols for ranger stations, scenic routes, and points of interest. Though playful, the composition is carefully constructed: mountain chains and river systems are legible at a glance, and highways are emphasized to support real-world navigation. The result is that rare balance of utility and artistry, a map that orients the traveler while telling a story about how to move—slowly, attentively—through wild country.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistorically, the map reflects a pivotal promotional push that made Montana a national vacation destination in the early twentieth century. Its fire-reporting advisories echo the conservation priorities of the interwar years, when forest management and public education were braided into recreation outreach. The emphasis on roads and automobile access speaks to an era of expanding forest highways and roadside amenities, as communities positioned themselves along scenic corridors. At the same time, the inclusion of dude ranches and ranger stations documents the social architecture of the western holiday—part hospitality, part stewardship—while the cheerful illustrations soften the gravity of wilderness safety into memorable public service. It is a cultural artifact of tourism, conservation, and civic boosterism working in concert.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGeographically, the map reads like a guided tour of the Northern Rockies’ greatest hits. Glacier National Park crowns the north, with West Glacier as a welcoming threshold; Flathead Lake glistens below Kalispell and Polson; and the Mission Range rises in sculptural relief above the valley lakes. Missoula anchors the crossroads west to St. Regis, Wallace, and Coeur d’Alene, and south into the Bitterroot past Lolo and Hamilton. To the east, Butte and Deer Lodge carry the weight of mining and territorial history, while Thompson Falls and Libby trace the sinuous river country to the northwest. Farther south, the Salmon River region and Pittsburg Landing hint at deeper canyons and wilder water, where fishing, camping, and backcountry travel take center stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe verso text celebrating Montana State University and the famed North Coast Limited Railroad underscores how education, rail travel, and regional identity converged to shape visitor experience. Railways funneled explorers to the mountains; universities trained foresters, engineers, and naturalists who managed them; and maps like this channeled that energy into journeys both safe and spectacular. As an object, it encapsulates mid-century cartographic wit—LaCasse’s gift for making information sparkle—while documenting the networks that opened the Rockies to the world. For collectors, it offers not only a lyrical portrait of place, but also a concise chronicle of how the West welcomed its guests and taught them to care for what they came to see.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlaces on this map\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGlacier National Park\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMissoula\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKalispell\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eButte\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHamilton\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLibby\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeer Lodge\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThompson Falls\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWallace\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoeur d'Alene (Idaho)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSalmon River region\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFlathead Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMission Range\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeeley Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSt. Regis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePolson\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLolo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBonner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePittsburg Landing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWest Glacier\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNotable Features \u0026amp; Landmarks\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePictorial representations of wildlife (e.g., bears, deer)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDrawings of outdoor activities (e.g., camping, fishing)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNotable roads and highways through the region\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIndications of dude ranches and ranger stations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVisual elements advising on fire reporting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVignettes depicting local flora and fauna\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn artistic legend explaining various map features\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIllustrations of historical points of interest\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTopographical features (mountains, rivers)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistorical and design context\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal Publication Date: 1940\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMapmaker\/Publisher: John B. LaCasse; Missoula Chamber of Commerce\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMap Purpose: Promotional guide highlighting outdoor attractions and recreational opportunities\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistorical Significance: Early 20th-century promotion of Montana as a vacation destination\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDesign Style: Ornate, whimsical pictorial cartography with vignettes and an artistic legend\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThematic Emphasis: Roads, wildlife, outdoor activities, and points of interest; safety advisories (e.g., reporting wildfires)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWildlife Illustrations: Caricatural drawings (migrating geese, exaggerated tourists)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdditional Context: Verso text about Montana State University and the North Coast Limited Railroad\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlease double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 90in (230cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/all-old-vintage-antique-maps\"\u003ebest old maps\u003c\/a\u003e to see if something else catches your eye.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlease \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003econtact me\u003c\/a\u003e to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex\/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Map","offer_id":57694220091776,"sku":"UM00268652A","price":38.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":57694220124544,"sku":"UM00268653A","price":105.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":57694220157312,"sku":"UM00268654A","price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Map","offer_id":57694220190080,"sku":"UM00268655A","price":38.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":57694220222848,"sku":"UM00268656A","price":105.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed canvas 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