Issued 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.

LaCasse’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.

Historically, 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.

Geographically, 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.

The 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.

Places on this map

• Glacier National Park
• Missoula
• Kalispell
• Butte
• Hamilton
• Libby
• Deer Lodge
• Thompson Falls
• Wallace
• Coeur d'Alene (Idaho)
• Salmon River region
• Flathead Lake
• Mission Range
• Seeley Lake
• St. Regis
• Polson
• Lolo
• Bonner
• Pittsburg Landing
• West Glacier

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Pictorial representations of wildlife (e.g., bears, deer)
• Drawings of outdoor activities (e.g., camping, fishing)
• Notable roads and highways through the region
• Indications of dude ranches and ranger stations
• Visual elements advising on fire reporting
• Vignettes depicting local flora and fauna
• An artistic legend explaining various map features
• Illustrations of historical points of interest
• Topographical features (mountains, rivers)

Historical and design context

• Original Publication Date: 1940
• Mapmaker/Publisher: John B. LaCasse; Missoula Chamber of Commerce
• Map Purpose: Promotional guide highlighting outdoor attractions and recreational opportunities
• Historical Significance: Early 20th-century promotion of Montana as a vacation destination
• Design Style: Ornate, whimsical pictorial cartography with vignettes and an artistic legend
• Thematic Emphasis: Roads, wildlife, outdoor activities, and points of interest; safety advisories (e.g., reporting wildfires)
• Wildlife Illustrations: Caricatural drawings (migrating geese, exaggerated tourists)
• Additional Context: Verso text about Montana State University and the North Coast Limited Railroad

Please 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.

This 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.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 90in (230cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This 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.

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.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps and art prints are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

Se non sei soddisfatto del tuo ordine per qualsiasi motivo, contattami per un rimborso senza problemi. Si prega di consultare la nostra politica di reso e rimborso per ulteriori informazioni.

Sono molto sicuro che ti piacerà la tua mappa restaurata o la stampa d'arte. Lo faccio dal 1984. Sono un venditore Etsy a 5 stelle. Ho venduto decine di migliaia di mappe e stampe d'arte e ho oltre 5.000 recensioni reali a 5 stelle.

Utilizzo un processo unico per restaurare mappe e opere d'arte che richiede molto tempo e lavoro. Trovare le mappe e le illustrazioni originali può richiedere mesi. Utilizzo tecnologia all'avanguardia e incredibilmente costosa per scannerizzare e restaurarle. Di conseguenza, garantisco che le mie mappe e stampe d'arte siano superiori alle altre - ecco perché posso offrire un rimborso senza problemi.

Quasi tutte le mie mappe e stampe d'arte sembrano fantastiche a grandi dimensioni (200 cm, 6,5 piedi+) e posso anche incorniciarle e consegnarle a te, tramite un corriere speciale per oggetti di grandi dimensioni. Contattami per discutere delle tue esigenze specifiche.