C. M. Russell Museum Complex facts for kids

The C. M. Russell Museum Complex is an art museum in Great Falls, Montana, United States. It is named after the famous "cowboy artist" Charles Marion Russell. The museum mainly shows Russell's artwork. It also displays his illustrated letters, work tools, and other items. These help visitors understand his life and how he worked.

The museum also features 19th, 20th, and 21st-century art. This art shows the American Old West, its plants, animals, and landscapes. In 2009, Wall Street Journal called it "one of America's premier Western art museums." Russell's log cabin studio and his two-story home are on the museum property. Both the house and studio became a National Historic Landmark in 1965. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

Since 1969, the museum has hosted art auctions. These auctions sell Western art from different centuries. The money raised helps the museum. These auctions have gained attention around the world. In 2010, the museum started its own auction called "The Russell."

Discovering the Museum's History

How the Museum Began

Josephine Trigg was an art teacher and children's librarian in Great Falls. She became friends with Charles M. Russell when she was a teenager. They stayed friends throughout Russell's life. Josephine often went on vacations with Russell and his wife. She also helped with the fancy writing on his letters and postcards.

Charles M. Russell was a professional artist for 30 years. He created about 4,000 to 4,500 artworks. His wife, Nancy Russell, kept some of his works. These included models and molds for bronze sculptures. She also kept almost all of Charlie Russell's papers. Most of his artwork was sold during his lifetime.

A local business owner, Sid Willis, collected 90 of Russell's works. These included paintings, watercolors, and drawings. In 1948, Willis decided to sell his collection. A group tried to buy it to keep it in Montana, but they were not successful. A Texas newspaper publisher bought the collection in 1952. He then created the Amon Carter Museum to display it. Other collectors also bought many of Russell's works over the years.

Charles Marion Russell in 1900.

Josephine Trigg had her own collection of 153 of Russell's works. These included oil paintings, watercolors, and illustrated letters. Many of these did not show Old West scenes. In her will, Trigg created a foundation. She gave her collection to the city. The only condition was that the city had to build a museum for it within two years.

A local business leader, Leonard Regan, helped raise money. They collected $75,000. In 1953, the Trigg-Russell Memorial Gallery opened. This was the museum's first name. The building cost $58,175 to build.

Growing and Changing Over Time

In its first two years, the museum welcomed 38,000 visitors. In 1957, it held its first big show that wasn't about Russell. This exhibit featured original paintings by Norman Rockwell. From 1955 to 1958, about 10,500 people visited each year. Because fewer people were coming, the museum decided to show more types of art. In 1960, the museum's leaders agreed to collect art from modern artists. These new works would also show the Old West.

In 1962, the "Mint Collection" of Russell's art was shown at the museum. This collection had been bought by the Amon Carter Museum. Promoting the museum and this special exhibit helped a lot. In 1963, more than 23,000 people visited the museum. With more visitors, a local builder and generous person, John L. McLaughlin, offered $100,000 for an expansion. The museum needed to raise $350,000 to match this gift.

The fundraising went well. The Montana Stockgrowers Association let the museum show Russell's famous 1887 watercolor, "Waiting for a Chinook." This painting had made Russell well-known across the country. Construction on the $307,000 addition began in 1968. The new galleries opened in 1969.

The fundraising showed the museum needed different ways to earn money. In 1968, a local TV personality, Norma Ashby, suggested an art auction. It would sell Old West art and help the museum. The auction would happen around Russell's birthday in March. The Great Falls Ad Club, a local business group, agreed to help host it. The first auction took place in March 1969.

In 1970, another new gallery space opened. A wealthy rancher, Charles A. Bovey, loved Montana's history. He collected many old items and saved historic records. He even bought and saved old buildings. In 1969, Bovey and his wife paid for a new gallery. It was built under the existing museum. This new lower gallery opened in 1970.

In 1972, the museum officially changed its name to the C.M. Russell Museum. Its collection continued to grow. The museum was first recognized by the American Alliance of Museums in 1974. In 1975, Richard J. Flood gave the museum over 1,000 Russell letters, writings, and other items. These were worth $600,000. In 1979, a life-size bronze statue of Russell was given to the museum. It was placed in front of the main entrance.

By 1980, the museum had bought more land next to its building. In 1982, the museum started a $3 million fundraising campaign. The goal was to double the museum's size. It would grow from 23,000 square feet to 46,000 square feet. That same year, the city of Great Falls gave the museum control of the Russell home and log cabin studio. In 1985, the museum's new addition opened. By 1989, the museum had seven galleries. They displayed 7,500 items, including art, personal items, and photos. The collection included 80 Russell paintings and 120 Russell sculptures.

The museum officially took ownership of the Russell home and studio in 1991. In 1994, they spent $250,000 to fix and preserve the log cabin. That same year, the museum was re-recognized by the American Alliance of Museums. It was one of only five museums in Montana to have this honor. The next year, the museum raised $1.1 million from local people. They bought Russell's large oil painting, "The Exalted Ruler."

In 1997, the museum started another fundraising campaign, "Trails to the Future." It aimed to raise $5 million for another expansion. The museum also fixed the outside of the Russell home that year. In 1999, the museum had 46 staff members. They also built a new parking lot.

The "Trails to the Future" campaign ended in 2000, raising $6.5 million. The expansion added 30,000 square feet to the museum. It also increased gallery space by 33,000 square feet. The new building cost $5 million. The new space held more Russell artworks. It also displayed the horse-drawn hearse used at Russell's funeral in 1926. A new gallery, the New West Gallery, showed modern artists. Other new areas included a children's space and a photography gallery. The "Good Medicine" gallery showed Native American culture. The museum also opened a gallery for Russell's friend, O.C. Seltzer. A sculpture garden featured 20 works by Bob Scriver. A new library and research center was also added.

The new expansion opened in 2001. The Great Falls Tribune newspaper said the expansion made the museum one of the world's major Western art museums. The main entrance moved from the south to the north side. The new galleries had warm, earthy colors. Many artworks that were in storage were now on display. The museum could also show the original safe from the Mint Saloon. A bronze sculpture of two bison, Change of Seasons, was placed near the east entrance.

In 2002, the Allen Foundation for the Arts gave the museum a $10,000 grant. This helped the museum attract more visitors. Also in 2002, someone bought Russell's watercolor "Waiting" for $240,000. They then gave it to the museum. In 2003, the museum closed the Bair Family Museum because it was too expensive to keep open. In March 2003, the museum bought Russell's oil painting "Four Generations." Clay sculptures showing the museum's history were added to the sculpture garden later that year.

In 2004, the museum changed how it showed Russell's works. Before, the biggest and most famous pieces were displayed prominently. Now, the museum showed pieces in the order they were created. This helped visitors see how Russell's art changed over time. Early works included two small oil paintings Russell did when he was 13 and 14. That same year, a U.S. government agency gave the museum $150,000. This money helped improve how the museum cared for its collections. The museum raised another $305,000 to match the grant.

In 2005, the museum continued to rearrange its galleries. The 200-piece Browning Firearms Collection moved to the front of the museum. The original back bar from the Mint Saloon was installed in a gallery. The museum also opened a cafe, which became very popular. Two steel sculptures by Billings artist Lyndon Pomeroy were placed outside.

In 2007, the Mitch family donated over 50 bronze sculptures by Scriver. The Mitches owned the place where Scriver's works were made. They traded their services for his art. The next year, the museum received a $375,000 grant. This supported a new exhibit called "The Bison: American Icon, Heart of Plains Indian Culture." The total cost of the exhibit was $1.5 million. An official from the National Endowment for the Arts called it "a nationally significant exhibition." In March 2011, John "Jack" McDowell Hoover donated three works by Russell to the museum. These included "The Lone Wolf" (1900), "The Last Laugh" (1916), and "When the Longest Blade Was Right" (1922). The C.M. Russell Museum was re-recognized by the American Alliance of Museums in 2011 for another 10 years.

As of 2011, the museum had 76,000 square feet of space. It owned about 2,000 pieces of art, personal items, and artifacts related to Russell.

How Many People Visit the Museum?

In 1953 and 1954, about 19,000 people visited the museum each year. From 1955 to 1958, around 10,500 people visited annually. By 1963, visitorship increased to over 23,000 people a year.

By 2003, the museum reported that 76 percent of its visitors were from outside Montana.

In 2006, the museum's director said its money comes from four main sources. These are the yearly auction, memberships and donations, museum tickets, and sales from the museum shop and art. "The Russell" auction made $1.35 million in sales in 2011.

The Russell: An Auction for the Museum

In 1969, the Great Falls Ad Club and Norma Ashby started the first C.M. Russell Art Auction. Part of the money from selling Western art went to the C.M. Russell Museum. Over time, this grew into a week of art events called Western Art Week. This is now the biggest Western art auction and exhibition in the United States. Between 1969 and 2003, the auction earned $16 million. It gave $3,771,088 to the museum.

In 2009, the museum and the Ad Club decided to go separate ways. The museum started a new auction called "The Russell: The Sale to Benefit the C.M. Russell Museum." "The Russell" held its first auction in 2010. It earned $605,473 for the museum. The second auction was in March 2011.

Who Manages the Museum?

The Trigg-C.M. Russell Foundation runs the museum, house, and log cabin studio. It is managed by officers and a board of directors. There are five officers and 43 members on the board. Board members can serve two three-year terms. They can rejoin the board after a year off.

The museum had some changes in its staff in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Several executive directors and curators changed during this time. In 2013, Michael D. Duchemin became the new executive director. He had worked at other museums before.

C.M. Russell Museum chief curator Sarah L. Burt passed away in 2015 after a long illness.

Exploring Russell's Home and Studio

Russell's original wood-frame home, in its new location in September 1976.

In 1896, Charlie Russell and his wife, Nancy, lived in a small home in Cascade, Montana. In 1897, they moved to a rented house in Great Falls. In 1900, Russell's father gave them $500. The Russells then started building a new home. A friend, George Calvert, likely designed and built the house.

The house was a two-story wood-frame building. It had a sloped roof and wooden shingles. It faced south and had little decoration outside. Inside, the first floor had a small front hall, a living room, dining room, bathroom, kitchen, and a small maid's room. Some furniture was built into the house. A steep staircase led to three small bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. The inside walls were covered in dark wood. A small porch wrapped around the southeast corner. The house style was called Arts and Crafts. The Russells moved into the home in the summer of 1900.

That same year, Charlie Russell wanted to build a log cabin studio for his work. There were not many good logs in Great Falls. So, Russell bought many Western red cedar telephone poles. He built a one-room cabin from these poles. He also built a rock fireplace and chimney. The cabin was 24 feet long and 30 feet wide. It had a porch across the whole south side. Russell put many elk antlers on top of the porch. A skylight was built into the roof. A small storage shed was attached to the cabin. At some point, Russell raised the roof by two logs. This was to fit a large canvas. The inside of the cabin had simple, handmade furniture. It was covered with buffalo and bear skins. It also held hundreds of Native American and cowboy items. Russell also built two birdhouses on the outside wall.

The Trigg family home was west of the log cabin studio. A horse stable was between the two buildings. The Trigg house and stable were torn down in 1953. This was to build the C.M. Russell Museum. The Russells also built a low stone wall in front of their properties. It had a concrete emblem with Russell's trademark (a cattle skull and his initials). These were still there in 1976 but have since been removed.

The National Park Service noted in 1976 that the house looked much like it did when built. Most of the original light fixtures, door handles, and doors were still there. However, in 1973, the museum moved the house 50 feet east and 50 feet north. The museum tore down another house to make space for the Russell home. The house's original back porch was removed.

Russell's original log cabin studio in 1976.

The log cabin studio also changed. Nancy Russell signed an agreement with the city in 1928. This gave Great Falls control of the studio and its land. Between 1928 and 1930, the city added a large L-shaped section to the studio. This was to create a gallery for Russell's art. In 1930, Nancy opened the studio to the public as a memorial to Charlie Russell. Other than these changes, the inside of the log cabin was much the same as when Russell used it.

Nancy Russell's will gave both buildings to the city of Great Falls. The city parks commission managed them until 1991. Then, they were given to the museum. Before 1976, the city let the Montana Federation of Garden Clubs furnish the house. They used furniture from that time period. They also provided guides to help visitors understand the home.

In 1966, the city of Great Falls wanted to tear down the Russell house. They wanted to build a parking lot for the museum. The Montana Historical Society and other groups strongly opposed this. City officials gave many reasons for wanting to tear it down. They said friends of the Russells approved, the original furniture was gone, and Russell "hated" the house. They even said the house "detracted" from the studio and museum.

The National Park Service said the house should stay. But there was a lot of confusion. The city sometimes thought the government approved of tearing down or moving the house. The house was saved only because the Garden Clubs threatened legal action. They pointed out that the 1928 agreement required the city to keep both buildings. The Garden Clubs made a deal with the city. The house was moved to its current spot.

The Russell cabin and museum in 1999. Elk antlers can be seen on the roof.

After the house moved in 1973, the Garden Clubs began fixing it up. The city repainted the outside and replaced broken windows. The Garden Clubs repainted and re-wallpapered the first floor. They also furnished the house. By July 1976, they were working on the second floor.

The National Park Service noted that the site's original look had changed a lot. The museum crowded the studio. Moving the house broke its connection to the studio. This connection was important to Charlie Russell. The city and museum also removed the original paths. These paths showed where the house first stood. The Park Service was concerned about more changes. They felt new landscaping would hide the changes even more.

When the site became a National Historic Place in 1976, the National Park Service was very clear. The historic area included only the three central lots on 4th Avenue North. This included the two lots Russell owned and the lot where the house moved. The C.M. Russell Museum, gardens, and other structures were not historic. They were not part of the National Historic Landmark.

The Russell home is open from May to September. It has furniture from Russell's time. Some of it belonged to the Russells. The log cabin studio also has items from the early 1900s. Some of these items belonged to Russell.

See also

• List of single-artist museums
• List of National Historic Landmarks in Montana
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Cascade County, Montana

Images for kids

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  Charles Marion Russell in 1900.

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  Russell's original wood-frame home, in its new location in September 1976.

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  Russell's original log cabin studio in 1976.

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  The Russell cabin and museum in 1999. Elk antlers can be seen on the roof.