National Historic Landmark · art museum · Great Falls, Montana

Russell, Charles M., House and Studio

Historic house in Montana. Built 1953. Added to the National Register in 1966, and a National Historic Landmark.

Charles M Russell House - new location - Great Falls Montana - September 1976Charles M Russell Log Cabin Studio - Great Falls Montana - September 1976Great Falls - C. M. Russell Museum
Photos via Wikimedia Commons · 3 in the Commons category

What it is

C. M. Russell Museum Complex is an art museum located in the city of Great Falls, Montana, in the United States. The museum's primary function is to display the artwork of Great Falls "cowboy artist" Charles Marion Russell, for whom the museum is named. The museum also displays illustrated letters by Russell, work materials used by him, and other items which help visitors understand the life and working habits of Russell. In addition, the museum displays original 19th, 20th, and 21st century art depicting the American Old West and the flora, fauna, and landscapes of the American West. In 2009, the Wall Street Journal called the institution "one of America's premier Western art museums." Located on the museum property is Russell's log cabin studio, as well as his two-story wood-frame home. The house and log cabin studio were designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. In 1976, the listing boundaries were amended to account for moving the house.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The record

Property typeBuilding
Address1217-1219 4th Ave., N., Great Falls, MT
CountyCascade County
ListedOct 15, 1966
Listed forArt
Level of significanceNational
Reference number66000430
Built1953 · more from the 1950s
Type of placeart museum, house, nonprofit organization
Visitors per year30,689
DesignationsNational Historic Landmark
Contributing resources2 buildings

The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗

Visiting

Address1217-1219 4th Ave., N., Great Falls, MT
Websitecmrussell.org ↗
Coordinates47.5099° N, 111.2857° W · Directions ↗
Also in Great Falls28 listed places in Great Falls →
Nearest national park unitGrant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site · 102 miles · on Park Atlas
Federal campgrounds nearbyMonument Peak Lookout 36 miles
This one you can go inside. Hours and admission change with the season; the website above has the current schedule.

Explore

Map

Local history books for Great Falls

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Ursuline Sisters of Great Falls
    Sister Francis Xavier Porter O.s.u and Kristi D. Scott, 2012
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Cascade County and Great Falls
    Ken Robison, 2011
    Find at Bookshop.org

Montana travel guides

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

When was Russell, Charles M., House and Studio listed on the National Register?

Oct 15, 1966. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.

Source: National Park Service

When was Russell, Charles M., House and Studio built?

1953.

Source: Wikidata

Can I visit Russell, Charles M., House and Studio?

Yes. Russell, Charles M., House and Studio is recorded as open to the public, and hours are on the official website. About 30,689 people visit each year.

Source: Official website

Where is Russell, Charles M., House and Studio?

1217-1219 4th Ave., N., Great Falls, Cascade County, Montana. The nearest national park unit is Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, 102 miles away.

Source: Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site

What does the Russell, Charles M., House and Studio listing include?

The listing counts 2 contributing resources. Those are 2 buildings. A contributing resource is a part of the listed property that carries its historic significance.

Source: National Park Service

Where is the nomination form for Russell, Charles M., House and Studio?

The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.

Source: National Archives

Are there campgrounds near Russell, Charles M., House and Studio?

One federal campground is within reach, Monument Peak Lookout, 36 miles away.

Source: Campsite Atlas

Is there cell service at Russell, Charles M., House and Studio?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

Is there a wildfire near Russell, Charles M., House and Studio right now?

1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-10-17, nearest Monarch Unit 141 Piles Rx, 36 miles away.

Source: Map

Sources

Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 66000430. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA.