Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1357477
Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center 4201 Giant Springs Rd Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, along with Sacagawea and the Corps of Discovery, spent nearly a month in the Great Falls area in June of 1805, having encountered one of their biggest obstacles – the series of waterfalls known as the Great Falls of the Missouri. The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center overlooks that section of river and its displays chronicle the entire route of the Corps of Discovery. Visitors can learn details of the plants and animals that expedition members documented, test their strength pulling a boat against the Missouri's current, take audio tours, or venture outdoors to explore some of the 55 miles of walking and bike trails that parallel the Missouri River, several of which are wheelchair accessible. Interpretive Center visitors should also check out the neighboring Giant Springs State Park, site of another historic landmark along the Lewis and Clark Trail. Every year in April, the Interpretive Center joins members of the Great Falls Museums Consortium to present the Museum Sunday Sampler, a free event that takes place every spring. Participants may take part in the Museum Treasure Hunt and enter the drawing for a prize from one of the Consortium museums. The annual Lewis and Clark Festival takes place in the summer, offering professional Native American dancers, a boating excursion to the Gates of the Mountains, and live music. The festival is organized by the Lewis & Clark Foundation. For more information, call (406) 452-5661. Winter Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday and 12-5 p.m. Sunday Summer Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily Admission: $8 adults, free for children age 15 and younger; annual, senior, access and military federal passes honored for free admission Phone: (406) 727-8733 Website: lewisandclarkfoundation.org/home.php History Museum 422 2nd St S The History Museum is an archival research center with the mission "to preserve historical documents and records considered important to the heritage of central Montana." Visit the exhibits and experience slices of Montana's heritage including the permanent exhibit "A Walk through Northcentral Montana's Military History" and temporary exhibits highlighting historic downtown Great Falls and local sports legends throughout the city's history. A jazz night is held every September in the Ozark Performance Room and another musical fundraiser is held in May. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday – Friday Admission: Free Phone: (406) 452-3462 Website: thehistorymuseumgreatfalls.com Malmstrom Air Force Base Museum 21 77th St N Ste 144 The Malmstrom Air Force Base Museum depicts the history of the base from its beginning as a B-17 training base to the operator one of the largest Minuteman ICBM missile fields in the world. It's located at the east end of 2nd Ave N, inside the Malmstrom AFB base main gate. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Friday Admission: Free; public passes are available at the base Visitor Center Phone: (406) 731-2705 Website: malmstrom.af.mil/About-Us/Malmstrom-Museum 84 Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce www.greatfallschamber.org C I T Y S I T E S * Businesses listed in blue are Chamber Members. Photo provided by Paris Gibson Square