Great Falls: Museums, Art and River's Edge Trail

Great Falls offers several distinct themes for a stay: art and regional history, the River's Edge Trail along the riverfront, and outdoor activities. The museums cover an art collection, historical topics, and an educational program with classes and workshops. The trail and Giant Springs State Park add practical ways to spend time outdoors to these cultural themes. You can use these themes to decide which aspects of the city interest you for your trip.

Art, Collections and History

The C.M. Russell Museum complex includes Russell's fully restored home and studio, a National Historic Landmark. The museum also houses one of the country's largest collections of the artist's paintings, sculptures, drawings and illustrated letters. The works span from Russell's childhood to the end of his life. The collection and home thus point to different aspects: Russell's art in several media and his home and work environment.

In addition, a permanent exhibition explores the central role of the bison in the cultural life of the Northern Plains from 1800 to the present. The difference from the Russell collection lies in the scope: it includes works from different stages in one artist's life, while the exhibition addresses a regional cultural theme over a long period. A biographical perspective and the cultural history of the Northern Plains are thus presented as distinct topics.

The History Museum preserves the heritage of North Central Montana and is housed in the historic International Harvester Co & Implement Dealership on Machinery Row. The museum offers free tours for all ages. If a tour is important to your plans, check when tours are available before your visit. Its regional focus and historic building give this museum a different emphasis from the art and bison themes of the C.M. Russell Museum.

The education department at the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art offers another perspective on art. It provides art classes and workshops for all ages in a variety of media. This adds an educational and workshop focus to the collections and regional history topics. If you are interested in art, you can distinguish between the collection and historic setting at the C.M. Russell Museum and the classes and workshops offered by the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art.

River's Edge Trail and Outdoor Activities

The River's Edge Trail is suitable for biking, jogging, inline skating, running and walking. It also connects local parks and attractions along both sides of Great Falls' scenic and historic riverfront. It is therefore both a trail for different kinds of exercise and a link between parks and attractions along the river. The grounds of the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center also include a section of the River's Edge Trail.

Just outside Great Falls, Giant Springs State Park offers opportunities for hiking, biking, picnicking, photography, fishing, hunting, boating and birdwatching. Giant Springs, one of the county's largest freshwater springs, is also located near Great Falls. The spring produces more than 156 million gallons of water each day. In addition to activities such as hiking and biking, the park offers other recreational options, including birdwatching, fishing and boating. The outdoor themes therefore differ: the River's Edge Trail focuses on ways to get active and on connecting parks and attractions along the riverfront, while the state park offers a range of additional activities.

Discover more destinations: Monarch, Vaughn.

For the broader trip overview: Cascade.