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Description

This 1926 wall map of Montana, published by the United States Department of the Interior under Secretary Hubert Work and General Land Office Commissioner William Spry, is a comprehensive depiction of the state's geographical and administrative features as compiled from official records. The map highlights a variety of notable elements, including state and local government offices, county and land district boundaries, and a detailed portrayal of national parks, national forests, and Indian reservations. 

The map prominently features Montana's national parks, most notably Glacier National Park in the northwestern part of the state. Established in 1910, Glacier National Park was created to preserve the region's stunning landscapes of rugged mountains, deep valleys, and diverse ecosystems, including ancient glaciers. The park has long been recognized for its unique geological features and rich biodiversity, which include a variety of plant and animal species unique to the northern Rocky Mountains. By 1926, Glacier National Park had already become a major attraction, celebrated for its scenic vistas and as a destination for tourists seeking outdoor recreation. 

Montana's national forests are also extensively illustrated on the map, with areas shaded in green to denote their boundaries. These forests, including the Lolo, Bitterroot, Flathead, and Gallatin National Forests, were part of the larger national conservation effort initiated by the U.S. government in the early 20th century. The forests were designated to preserve the vast natural resources of the region, including timber, water, and wildlife, and to protect the land from over-exploitation and settlement. The establishment of these national forests played a critical role in promoting sustainable land management and conservation practices during a period of rapid economic and agricultural expansion in Montana. 

The map identifies several Indian reservations in Montana, highlighted in yellow. Notable reservations include the Crow, Blackfeet, and Fort Peck Reservations. These reservations represent the lands reserved for Native American tribes following various treaties and federal policies of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Blackfeet Reservation, located near Glacier National Park, is home to the Blackfeet Nation, while the Crow Reservation is situated in the south-central region of the state, reflecting the historical territories of the Crow tribe. The Fort Peck Reservation, one of the largest in Montana, is home to the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes. These reservations are significant not only as contemporary centers of Native American life and culture but also as historical reminders of the complex and often contentious relationship between the U.S. government and Indigenous peoples. 

General Land Office Biography

The General Land Office (GLO) refers to the independent agency in the United States that was in charge of public domain lands. Created in 1812, it assumed the responsibilities for public domain lands from the United States Department of the Treasury. The Treasury had overseen the survey of the Northwest Territory, but as more area was added to the United States, a new agency was necessary to survey the new lands.

Eventually, the GLO would be responsible for the surveying, platting, and sale of the majority of the land west of the Mississippi, with the exception of Texas. When the Secretary of the Interior was created in 1849, the GLO was placed under its authority. Until the creation of the Forest Service in 1905, the GLO also managed forest lands that had been removed from public domain. In additional to managing the fees and sales of land, the GLO produced maps and plans of the areas and plots they surveyed. In 1946, the GLO merged with the United States Grazing Service to become the Bureau of Land Management.