CM Russell | The Art & Soul of the American West
Charles Marion Russell (1864–1926) was many things; consummate Westerner, historian, advocate of the Northern Plains Indians, cowboy, writer, outdoorsman, philosopher, environmentalist, conservationist, and not least, artist. In Montana's Basecamp for Art & Adventure, you can experience first-hand the places Charlie touched; from the Judith Basin where he worked as a ranch hand to his home and studio at the CM
Jazz! The Legacy of the Ozark Club
There was just something about the Ozark Club. From 1933 to 1962, this nightclub in Great Falls became an entertainment sensation sought far and wide. Imagine the swirls of tobacco smoke filling the air, the saxophone wailing, and the gin flowing in a cornerstone of Great Falls history. After 15 long years, Prohibition ended in Montana and Leo LaMar opened the Ozark Club
Adventure | The Dead Among Us
Great Falls, as an early Basecamp for Adventure in Montana, is home to hair-raising stories from our early settlers to turn-of-the century residents. The dead among us have given Great Falls amazing stories that reverberate throughout the soul of the city even today. The following are a few stories collected from Great Falls historians that are presented every year in
What You’ll Find at the Malmstrom Museum
Great Falls boasts 10 amazing museums that vary in purpose, size, and mission. These museums are part of what makes Great Falls Montana's Basecamp for Art & Adventure. In honor of Veteran's Day, the Great Falls Montana Tourism team is proud to highlight what visitors will find at the Malmstrom Museum. Malmstrom Air Force Base was established in 1942 during World War II. Great Falls
Paris Gibson, Man of Mystery
Paris Gibson was a man of many achievements; magnate, city founder, Senator. But few people know what Gibson was known for later in his life until his death in 1920; the alleged accomplice in his wife's death/murder. In honor of Halloween and with help from the History Museum and Downtown Great Falls, Great Falls Montana Tourism presents a side of our city's
Autumn in Montana’s Basecamp for Art & Adventure
Natural beauty, rugged landscape, and breathtaking views make Great Falls the perfect autumn destination. The Great Falls, so named by Meriweather Lewis, are more than 80 feet high, giving visitors to the Ryan Dam a view that was described by Lewis as “…the grandest sight I ever beheld…” Despite dams being built on all 5 of Great Falls’ falls (beginning in 1890 and ending in
The Ladies of Great Falls
Men settled the West, Women civilized it. This was especially true in Great Falls, where women both civilized and improved the vast landscape of Great Falls Montana. The first notable woman of Great Falls was Sacajawea, a Lemhi Shoshone woman who was instrumental in helping the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery achieve their chartered mission of exploring the Louisiana Territory. Sacajawea traveled
Tenacity | The Miners of Great Falls
Life under the Big Sky has always been an adventure, and no one would know that better than a miner working for the Boston and Montana Consolidated Copper and Silver Mining Company in Great Falls in the late 1800s. Montana's first mining, smelting, and refining company added to, and dramatically altered, the Great Falls landscape. In 1887, 2 years before Montana was
Great Falls Adventure | Rock Hounding
A Rock Hound is an amateur rock, mineral, and petrified wood collector; this hobby has been around for over 100 years and in that time, has grown to include hobbyists young and old. As Montana's basecamp for Art & Adventure, Great Falls offers many ways to immerse yourself in rock hounding. For anyone interested in looking at river rocks, finding gems
Brother Van | Best loved man in Montana
Great Falls | Montana's Basecamp for Art & Adventure, is the home of one of Montana’s most famous pioneers. William Wesley Van Orsdel, or more fondly called Brother Van, came to Montana via steamboat in 1872. He told the captain he was going to Montana "to sing, to preach, and to encourage people to be good." He loved everyone he