Richard S. Buswell

Dr. Rich Buswell, a retired doctor, has spent 46 years researching and locating the Mullan Road. In his formative years, he and his family herded cattle in the Mullan Pass (Montana) area sparking his interest in the historic route. Using General Land Office Cadastral Survey maps and extensive boots-on-ground exploration, he determined the route of the Mullan Military Road in Elliston-Helena-Wolf Creek area.

Dr. Buswell has published in several medical journals and exhibited his photography in numerous museums. These books feature his black and white, abstract photography of Montana ghost towns:

What They Left Behind, University of New Mexico Press, 2017.
Close to Home, University of New Mexico Press, 2013.
Traces: Montana's Frontier Re-visited, University of Montana Press, 2007.
Silent Frontier: Icons of Montana's Early Settlement, Montana Museum of Arts & Culture, 2002.
Echoes: A Visual Reflection, Museum of Fine Arts of the University of Montana, 1997.

Mullan Road Center Line: Little Blackfoot River to Dearborn Crossing

by Richard S. Buswell

This map represents 45 years of research by Dr. Rich Buswell. The yellow line is a faithful interpretation of his paper Forest Service map, using Township and Range section lines as a reference, by Kris Townsend, August 30, 2017. With this digital map, Buswell, Townsend, and perhaps other researchers, plan to refine this route with greater accuracy.

View

Mullan Road Center Line (Complete)

by Kristopher K. Townsend, Richard S. Buswell, and Robert H. Dunsmore

This Mullan Road centerline describes the general route of the Mullan Military Road built between 1859 and 1861. It represents many years of research from several individuals and continues to be adjusted as new research is completed.

View