Great Falls, Montana, Part II

Today was the day we visited the Charles M. Russell Museum. He is renown for his paintings of the west. As a cowboy, C.M. Russell painted some of the most vivid portraits of life in the west. There were a astounding number of his paintings, drawings and even his letters to family and friends here. His trademark was a drawing on each of his letters. Here they also had the home and painting gallery Russell lived in and worked from. There was a large gun collection in the museum including these two beautiful gold plated rifles. C.M. also did some sculptures that were displayed here. It was a very modern facility, a great tribute to a man who showed us what life in the 1800's was like.

We had lunch at Gibson park named after Great Falls Mayor Paul Gibson. Next we headed to Black Eagle Falls & Dam. We took a short walk to the small island to get a better view of the falls. There was a power plant humming away next to us on the island producing power for Great Falls as we snapped a few pictures.

Late in the afternoon, Gary, Patsy, Peggy and I drove to Ryan Dam where Patsy's niece, Bryna, was getting married today. We arrived a bit early so we walked to the observation point to look at the falls. After that, Peg, Patsy and Patsy's sister Maxine (who made the cake for the wedding) were getting the cake put together in the reception hall. After a few trials and tribulations, they got it together and proudly posed for this picture with the cake.

The wedding was held on another small island you had to get to by walking on a suspended, swinging bridge which was across a small gorge. Not one of my favorite things to do, but I walked across without a problem. The wedding went well with the rush of water in the background and music in the air. The reception followed and, of course, the cake was a hit!!

REMEMBER: You can always click on a picture to enlarge it!!