Titled “Gardiner,” this U.S. Geological Survey 1:100,000 topographical map was created in 1992 and published with a 1993 imprint, capturing a richly contoured portrait of south-central Montana and the northern threshold of Yellowstone. It prominently includes Emigrant, Montana, set amid the dramatic folds of Paradise Valley and the surrounding mountain country. The map’s color work, shaded relief, and fine contouring make elevation legible at a glance, transforming the landscape into a precise visual study of ridges, valleys, drainages, and forested uplands. As both a scientific document and a handsome cartographic object, it records the region at a moment when conservation, recreation, ranching, and rural development were all shaping the modern Yellowstone gateway.

The U.S. Geological Survey brought more than a century of federal mapping expertise to this sheet, combining rigorous field data, aerial interpretation, and standardized topographic design. Founded in 1879, the USGS became the nation’s authoritative mapper of terrain, water systems, mineral resources, and natural hazards, and its maps are prized for their clarity and practical intelligence. In “Gardiner,” that institutional precision is especially well suited to the country depicted: a landscape where geology is not merely background, but the controlling force. Valleys follow ancient structural lines, streams descend from high basins, and roads thread through terrain shaped by volcanic history, uplift, erosion, and the persistent action of mountain water.

The map’s geography is anchored by the northern reaches of Yellowstone National Park, one of the most consequential protected landscapes in the world. Near Gardiner, the park’s northern entrance lies close to the meeting of wild river corridors, volcanic plateaus, and steep mountain fronts. Lava Creek appears as a reminder of Yellowstone’s geologic vitality, while the Gardner River system, including the noted resurgence of the Gardner River, adds hydrological drama to the sheet. These waterways are more than labels: they reveal how snowmelt, springs, and ancient volcanic terrain organize movement through the region. The map invites the eye to trace water from high slopes into narrowing canyons and broader valleys below.

Beyond Yellowstone, the map reaches into lands associated with Gallatin National Forest and the Bear Tooth Wilderness, areas that speak to the grandeur and difficulty of the northern Rocky Mountains. Forest boundaries, trails, and roads mark the human framework placed over a far older alpine terrain of peaks, passes, drainages, and timbered slopes. U.S. Highway 89 is especially important, running through this celebrated corridor and linking communities such as Emigrant with the wider Yellowstone country. Its presence underscores the region’s dual identity: accessible enough to invite travelers, anglers, hikers, and hunters, yet rugged enough to retain the scale and remoteness that define Montana’s mountain landscapes.

As a record of the early 1990s, “Gardiner” offers more than orientation; it preserves a moment in the evolving relationship between settlement, recreation, and protected wilderness. Emigrant and nearby rural places appear within a matrix of public lands, road networks, river valleys, and mountain barriers, allowing comparison with later patterns of growth and land use. The detailed topography conveys why development gathers in certain valleys while higher country remains forested, steep, and comparatively untouched. For collectors, the map’s appeal lies in this union of utility and atmosphere: it is a disciplined federal survey, yet also a vivid portrait of Yellowstone’s northern approaches and Montana’s enduringly dramatic terrain.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Emigrant
• Yellowstone National Park
• Gallatin National Forest
• Bear Tooth Wilderness
• Gardiner River
• Lava Creek
• Resurgence of the Gardner River
• U.S. Highway 89
• Various trails and roads
• Peaks and mountains in the surrounding area
• National parks and protected areas relevant to outdoor recreation and conservation

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey
• Historical 1:100,000 topographical map titled Gardiner
• Created in 1992 and published with a 1993 imprint
• Shows Emigrant, Montana and the surrounding area
• Uses color to highlight elevation changes
• Includes detailed topographical lines and shaded relief
• Depicts mountains, valleys, rivers, forests, and rugged terrain
• Provides insight into Montana’s geography in the early 1990s
• Useful for understanding changes in land use and development over time

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 36x24in (90x60cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.

With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.