Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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C. M. Russell Museum
One of the best and most intimate Western art museums in the country, the
C. M. Russell
Museum
(400 13th St. N., 406/727-8787,
www.cmrussell.org
, 10am-5pm Tues.-Sun. late
May-Sept., 10am-5pm Wed.-Sat. Oct.-late May, $9 adults, $7 seniors, $4 students, free
for children 5 and under) has amassed the world's largest collection of Charlie Russell art
and personal objects, including his illustrated letters. His home (11am-4pm Tues.-Sun. late
May-Sept.) and log studio (10am-4:45pm Tues.-Sun. late May-Sept., 11am-4pm Wed.-Sat.
Oct.-late May) have been meticulously maintained on the museum grounds and are open
to visitors. In addition to a significant number of important works by Western masters, the
museum takes an interesting approach to art through its permanent bison exhibit. The iconic
Western ungulate had significance to Russell himself, and the importance of the animal and
its near extinction is traced through more than 1,000 exquisite Native American artifacts.
Don't leave Great Falls without spending a few hours at the C. M. Russell.
Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art
Located at the eastern end of downtown Great Falls, the
Paris Gibson Square Museum
of Art
(1400 1st Ave. N., 406/727-8255,
www.the-square.org
,
10am-5pm Mon., 10am-5pm
and 7pm-9pm Tues., 10am-5pm Wed.-Fri., noon-5pm Sat., free) is known as “The Square”
and occupies an entire city block. Built in 1896, the impressive structure served the com-
munity as Central High School and later as Paris Gibson Junior High until it closed in 1975.
Renovated, renamed after the city's founder, and reopened in 1977, this National Historic
Landmark houses an impressive permanent collection of contemporary art as well as im-
portant traveling exhibitions. In addition to classes, lectures, tours, and performances, the
museum has a café and gift shop. Don't miss a stroll through the sculpture garden located
on the beautifully landscaped grounds.
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Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center
Beautifully built into a bluff overlooking the Missouri River, the
Lewis and Clark Na-
tional Historic Trail Interpretive Center
(4201 Giant Springs Rd., 406/727-8733,
www.fs.usda.gov/main/lcnf/learning
,
9am-6pm daily Memorial Day-Sept., 9am-5pm
Tues.-Sat., noon-5pm Sun. Oct.-Memorial Day, $8 adults, free for children under 15 and
Federal Pass holders) provides visitors with a hands-on interpretation of the intrepid ex-
plorers' cross-country journey. With a two-story diorama of the portage at the Missouri
River's five great falls, impressive videos by Ken Burns and others, and ranger-led pro-
grams, the center does an excellent job of portraying the importance of Native Americans to
