Great Falls, MT City Guide and Yellow Pages

More About Great Falls, Montana

at Falls rests in the heart of Montana’s Big Sky Country, encircled by breath-taking natural wonders and scenic mountain views. The city is snuggled between prosperous farmland a few miles west of the spectacular Rocky Mountains and the Little Belt Mountains to the east. The city is settled on the grand Missouri River with its frothing rapids and picturesque waterfalls from which Great Falls gets its name. Great Falls boasts three rivers, the Missouri, the Sun, and the Roe.

Incorporated in 1888, Great Falls is the county seat of Cascade County. Located between Glacier and Yellowstone national parks, Great Falls is the third-largest city in the state. With a population of roughly 59,366 (2009 U.S. census), this central-Montana town is about 50 miles east of the Continental Divide and some 120 miles south of the Canadian border. Great Falls covers 22 square-miles and has an elevation of 3,300 feet. The iris is the city’s official flower. Great Falls is also known as "River City” and “The Electric City." The rich western heritage of Great Falls is reflected in the artwork of the city’s "legendary cowboy artist," Charles M. Russell. Great Falls is also called "the Western Art Capital of the World."

Great Falls was first "discovered" by famed explors Lewis and Clark in 1805. In the recently purchased Louisiana Territory, the pair encountered wild buffalo grazing on the prairies. Long-time home and hunting grounds of the Blackfeet Indians, Lewis and Clark were the first known white men to witness the area’s five sets of cascading waterfalls on the Missouri River. The falls’ rumble was said to be heard from 7 miles away.

In May 1882, Paris Gibson arrived in Great Falls with great plans for a city. With the important backing of major railroad man James Hill, Great Falls was built within two years, becoming a useful railroad connection. The city of Great Falls was painstakingly designed by the thoughtful Gibson, who set aside 886 acres of land for urban parks. Understanding the importance of beauty to a successful city plan, Gibson helped plant elm, ash, and fir trees on each street and avenue. In 1888, Great Falls was incorporated as a city. Gibson was the town’s first mayor, but served only one year. In 1890, the town’s first library was built and was named the Valeria Library after his wife.

In Cascade County today, there are five hydroelectric dams operating, the Black Eagle Dam, the Morony Dam, the Rainbow Dam, the Cochran Dam, and the Ryan Dam. Ryan Dam rests at the top of the true Great Falls of the Missouri River, which are actually several miles away from the city of Great Falls.

A lively arts and cultural community is reflected in Great Falls’ numerous museums. For history buffs, there are the Cascade County Historical Society, the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center, and the First People’s Buffalo Jump Visitor’s Center (located outside of Ulm). Other historical attractions include, the High Plains Heritage Center, the Mehmke steam Engine Museum, and the Montana Cowboys Association Museum and Bar, a log cabin filled with more than "500 mementos of a romantic past," including Old West artifacts and guns.

For art lovers, there is the Paris Gibson Museum of Art, Galleries Trinitas, Stage Coach Gallery, Gallery 16, and the Charles M. Russell Museum. In addition, there is the Children’s Museum of Montana, the Ursuline Center and the museum at Malmstrom Air Force Base (the hub of the first U.S. Minuteman Missile Complex).

For entertainment, Great Falls offers "homegrown auto racing" at the Electric City Speedway, or the Montana Expo Park, home of the annual Montana State Fair, concerts, trade shows, rodeos, craft shows and livestock sales.

Outdoor recreational opportunities are plentiful in Great Falls and the surrounding Big Sky Country. Enthusiasts can enjoy many options from hiking, fishing, and camping to golfing. Great Falls offers river guides, a water park, national forest trails and even helicopter sightseeing.

Founded in 1932 by the Sisters of Providence, the University of Great Falls is an independent Catholic, liberal arts university with 30 bachelor's-degree programs and six master's-degree programs.

Written by Kathleen Cooney

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Newspapers are Great Falls Tribune, Prairie Star
Great Falls Sports teams are Great Falls High School Bison, White Sox, Argos
Local Schools are Montana State University, University of Great Falls