Cultural Landscape Archive
The Cultural Landscape Archive is the central repository for photographs, maps, administrative records, field documentation, and geospatial data related to New Deal programs in Montana. It brings together dispersed materials from Tribal, county, state, and federal collections and links each item to specific places, programs, and landscape features.
What the Archive Contains
The Archive includes materials from CCC, CCC‑ID, WPA, PWA, SCS, BIA, BOR, NPS, and other New Deal programs. Items are organized by:
- Place (county, reservation, watershed, site)
- Program or agency
- Landscape feature (dam, terrace, shelterbelt, school, ranger station, etc.)
- Document type (photograph, map, report, correspondence, plan)
Each item is linked to its historical, ecological, and institutional context to support research, teaching, and public understanding.
Explore the Archive
- Collections Overview
- Metadata & Methods
- Programs & Agencies
- How to Use the Archive
- How to Contribute Materials
- Partners & Collaborators
- External Links Directory
Why Cultural Landscapes Matter
Cultural landscapes reveal how people, institutions, and ecological systems interact over time. New Deal programs reshaped Montana’s farms, rangelands, forests, towns, and reservations. The Archive documents these transformations and preserves the historical record for future generations.
Research Pathways
- Tracing New Deal projects across counties and reservations
- Analyzing ecological change through archival photographs and maps
- Connecting agency records to specific landscape features
- Integrating oral histories with administrative documentation