Art Along the Trail
Awaken Your Artistic Spirit!
Great Falls’ beloved River’s Edge Trail not only hosts adventurers that bike, hike, walk, and run the trail, but also is home to over 27 pieces of art. From the Oct-tool-pus, to the Rainbuffalo, and even Grizzly Bear, the environmental art along the trail is ready for you to enjoy. Use this guide to find out key information about the pieces of art and the creative artists behind them.
Artistic Chain
Donated by MT Refining Co.
Find this piece of art near the 9th Street Bridge on the north side of the Missouri River. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Bat House
Artist: Adam Blake
Year: 2017
Adam Blake created a bat house for this Eagle Scout project that would pit bugs against bats along the River’s Edge Trail. There are six bat houses in total. Find this piece of art in Giant Springs State Park. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Bridge Murals
Artist: Rachel Kaiser
Year: 2016
Three bridge pillars painted with acrylic and spray paint, to commemorate the real celebrities in this world, wildlife. This mural celebrates the wildlife along the Missouri River in Great Falls, Montana. It was donated by Parks and Rec. Find this piece of art across from the Milwaukee Station. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Caboose On The River’s Edge Trail
Artist: Donated by Burlington Northern
Year: 1995
The Caboose pays homage to our impressive mining history. There is plenty of parking near this piece of art. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Cattails And Geese
Artist: Charlie Ringer
Year: 2016
Find this piece of art near the West Bank Park. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Crop Circles
Artist: Mike Hollern
Year: 2010
Find this piece of art on the north side of the Missouri River, east of the 9th Street Bridge. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Dead Ringers
Artist: Mike Hollern
Find this piece of art near Gibson Park. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Gary Trescott Memorial Bow String Equatorial Sundial
Artist: Gary Trescott and Dana Woodward
The “Gary Trescott Memorial Bow String Equatorial Sundial” was constructed to the plans of longtime trail and tree advocate Gary Trescott, who died before it was installed. It was constructed by Dana Woodward with some help from Doug Norwick, Falls Construction and the People’s Park & Recreation Foundation. Find this piece of art on the south side of the Missouri River, east of the 9th Street Bridge. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Globes
Artist: Alex Smithson
Year: 2016
Each globe is 24 inches in diameter and they weigh about 300 pounds each. Find this piece of art on the south side of the Missouri River, west of the 9th Street Bridge. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Grizzly Bear
Artist: Nathan Bread
Year: 2008
This sculpture pays tribute to the scare that Meriweather Lewis had when he was chased by a Grizzly Bear while near the banks of the Missouri River during his expedition through Great Falls, Montana. The sculpture is dedicated to long-time CM Russell High School biology teacher, Don Kenczka. Find this piece of art near West Bank Park. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Keep Runnin’
Artist: Kris Madsen
Year: 2019
The statue is 7 feet tall and honors the late cross-country coach, Branch Brady, who graduated from Great Falls High School. He became the captain of UW-Madison cross country team and broke Big Ten records for the indoor 2-mile race. Find this piece of art at West Bank Park. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Lewis And Clark And Sacagawea
Artist: Mike Woods
Year: 2010
Donated by Leadership Great Falls. Find this piece of art in Giant Springs State Park. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Mosaic Metal Towers
Artist: Alex Smithson
Year: 2014
These mosaic metal towers serve as the east entrance markers for the Weissman Memorial Bridge, which is the 1st Ave North Bridge. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Oct-tool-pus
Artist: Alex Smithson
Year: 2020
This 700-pound piece of art has special meaning to the artist, as Alex grew up playing at West Bank Park.
Find this piece of art at the West Bank Park. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Ode Of Beavers
Artist: Mike Hollern
Year: 2012
The sculpture is located on the west end of the Weissman Memorial Bridge, which is the 1st Ave North Bridge. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Parade Of Geese
Find this piece of art on the northwest side of the Missouri River near the Weissman Bridge, which is the 1st Ave North Bridge. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Peace Post
Find this piece on the south side of the Missouri River near the 9th Street Bridge. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Pelican
Artist: Alex Smithson
Year: 2017
The Pelican was created as a dedication piece to Doug Wicks, the founder and activist of the River’s Edge Trail, and became a memorial for him after he passed away. Find this piece of art near the Great Falls Federal Courthouse. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Sacagawea
Artist: Carol Grende
Year: 2007
The bronze statue of Sacagawea is located near the Great Falls Federal Courthouse. Click on the may for a detailed location.
Shovel Cone
Artist: Alex Smithson
Year: 2014
The pinecone metal sculpture is made from over 100 shovel heads. Find this piece of art across from the Milwaukee Station. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Spinning Goldfish
Artist: Alex Smithson
Find this piece of art across from the Milwaukee Station. Click on the map for a detailed location.
T Rex
Artist: Donated by Anderson Steel Supply
Year: 2017
This 15-foot high statue of a Tyrannosaurus Rex looks over the city near Warden Park Gazebo. Click on the map for a detailed location.
Tool Tree
Artist: Alex Smithson
Year: 2015
The “Tool Tree” is made from metal parts, and its leaves or branches are chains. When the wind blows hard enough, the chains move.
Find this piece of art near the Great Falls Federal Courthouse. Click on the map for a detailed location.
West Bank Sign
Year: 2017
As part of an ongoing project to develop West Bank Park, Great Falls Park & Rec worked with KaBOOM, a national nonprofit that builds play areas, to add playground equipment, seating, bathrooms, art and more to the south entrance of the park in 2017. Find this piece of art near West Bank Park. Click on the map for a detailed location.
West Towers
Artist: Mike Hollern
Year: 2014
The West Towers serve as the west entrance to the Weissman Memorial Bridge, which is the 1st Ave North Bridge.
Click on the map for a detailed location.
Wind Chime
Artist: Alex Smithson
Year: 2018
The wind chime was made from an old farm auger and pieces of pipe. Find this piece of art in Giant Springs State Park. Click on the map for a detailed location.
