![[ Montana ] By Rand McNally & Company](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/101156.jpg)
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Highly detailed map of Montana, showing towns, rivers, railroads, mountains, lakes, etc.
The Rocky Mountains dominate the western part of the state, with the Continental Divide running north-south through the middle. To the east of the Divide, the terrain gradually flattens out into rolling hills and grasslands.
In 1864, gold was discovered in the western part of Montana, leading to a rush of miners and prospectors eager to strike it rich. This influx of people led to the creation of several new settlements and towns, including Helena, Butte, and Virginia City. In 1865, Montana became a territory of the United States, and efforts were made to establish a functioning government and infrastructure. The territory experienced a boom in agriculture and ranching during this time, with many settlers moving in to take advantage of the fertile land and abundant resources.
In the 1870s, Montana continued to grow and develop, with the construction of railroads and the establishment of new towns and settlements.
Rand McNally & Co. is a large American map and navigation company best known for its annual atlases. The company got its start in 1856, when William Rand opened a print shop in Chicago. He was joined in 1858 by a new employee, Andrew McNally. Together, the men established their namesake company in 1868. Originally, the company was intended to print the tickets and timetables for the trains running to and through Chicago; their first railway guide was published in 1869.
By 1870, they had shifted from just printing to publishing directories, travel guides, and newspapers. Their first map appeared in 1872 in a railway guide. The map was produced using a new wax engraving method, a cheaper process that gave the company an edge.
By 1880 Rand McNally had entered the education market with globes, wall maps, and geography texts for students. In 1923, Rand McNally published the first Goode’s World Atlas, named after its editor, Dr. J. Paul Goode. For generations afterward, this would be the standard classroom atlas.
In 1899, William Rand left the company, but McNally and his family remained, controlling the company for over a century. In 1904, they published their first road map intended for automobiles and by 1907 were publishing Photo-Auto Guides, which combined photography and mapping to help drivers. In 1924, they produced the Auto Chum, a precursor to their famous road atlases. Rand McNally would remain the leader in road maps and atlases throughout the twentieth century.
In 1937, Rand McNally opened its first store in New York City. Ever on the frontier of technology, Rand McNally pioneered the scribing process for printing tickets in 1958 and printed their first full-color road atlas in 1960. Arthur Robinson developed his now-famous projection of Rand McNally in 1969. By the 1980s, the company was exploring digital reproduction and digital databases of maps for truckers. In the 1990s, they lead the charge to develop trip-planning software and websites. Today, most of its products are available online or in a digital format, including maps for tablets and phones.
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