Things to Do in Montana

One of the nation’s most pristine and magnificent natural wonders, Glacier National Park–the Crown of the Continent–encompasses a vast landscape of snowcapped mountains and turquoise glacial lakes along the Continental Divide. One of the top reasons folks often visit Glacier National Park is to travel along the Going-to-the-Sun Road,

The red sandstone Moss Mansion Historic House Museum and its tranquil grounds have been preserved to provide a time capsule of life in Billings, Montana, at the beginning of the 20th century. Originally built as the Moss family home in 1903 and inhabited until the 1980s, the mansion now holds historic exhibits, special events, and educational tours.

The two-story, 16-gallery C.M. Russell Museum is an ode to celebrated artist of the American West Charles Marion Russell, and his former home in Great Falls, Montana. Alive during the heyday of the Wild West between the 19th and 20th centuries, Russell produced more than 4,000 paintings, sketches and bronze sculptures capturing the period's knock for posterity. Hundreds of his intricate watercolors line the museum’s walls, painting a picture of the dusty plains, big skies, furious bison, and colorful inhabitants of the region at that time. Photographs, artwork, and related collections by other American West artists—including a display of John Moses Browning antique firearms—also fill the galleries.

Next door, Russell’s former home and separate log cabin studio, both registered National Historic Landmarks, lend insight into the life and times of the man. The home is open for tours and included in the price of admission, though the studio remains closed during ongoing restoration. To appreciate both the museum and the home, a half day visit is recommended.