My late beloved husband David & I had planned to come to Great Falls just to visit this museum. He would have loved this so much!
You can actually buy your ticket online through Trip Advisor; however, if you’re age 60+, there’s a senior discount which doesn’t show, so be aware of that.
The museum is open 10 am to 5 pm every day, & it is very well-thought out in its design. When you check in at the gift shop entry, they give you a map: Use it! It helps direct you through the story & events of Charlie Russell’s life, & is well worth it. Each gallery also is labeled, up on the wall by the ceiling, so if you feel a little lost, you can always check it against the map to know exactly where you are…
My best suggestion is to follow the map & read the major events which shaped his life & therefore, his art! He was a very thoughtful man, & so gifted. If it hadn’t been for his amazing life partner, who turned out to be a fantastic business manager, he might not have become nearly as well-known for his work, which captured a vanishing age, especially here in Montana.
To discover that a book his father read to him as a young boy fired his imagination to love the West & to go to Montana is a tribute not only to his father, but also, to how powerful a force loving to read can be!
After you complete the galleries & the lower level, you’ll be ready to visit the Russell studio & home! Both are quite charming.
I took my time, focusing mostly on everything about Charles M. Russell in his museum, & I spent about 2 hours in the main museum. The studio & home together afterward were about a half hour.
Enjoy your visit!