Bill Skacel’s Cartoon Map of Montana

“Here’s a FUN MAP Telling You All About This Place” – verso.

This quaint cartoon map of Montana was created by Bill Skacel and published in Milwaukee by the E.C Kropp Co. around 1947. It is one of several postwar pictorial promotional mailers covering different states that were designed and issued by the duo.

Illustrated vignettes showcase the Big Sky Country’s industrial products, recreational opportunities, historic sites, and natural beauty. Figures are depicted in a variety of activities, often amusing, though the unfortunate representation of Native Americans reflects common contemporary stereotypes. The humor extends to other features across the state, such as the world’s tallest stack, Glacier National Park, and Cabinet National Forest.

The verso provides descriptive text and photographs of the Montana Bad Lands, the State Capitol Building, Indian Caves, and the Beartooth Hi-Way. A small pictorial map brings ‘Greetings from Montana’, while additional space is available for notes and the addressee.