Great Falls city centre is the downtown area for shopping, boutiques and cultural stops, including Gibson Park and two museums. You can pair a walk through downtown with a visit to the C.M. Russell Museum or Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, then use local transit or downtown parking options to get around.
- Downtown attractions highlighted by the City of Great Falls include shopping, boutiques and Gibson Park.
- The C.M. Russell Museum features Charles M. Russell’s art, home and log studio.
- Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art offers free admission.
- The C.M. Russell Museum is open seven days a week from May through September.
Orienting Yourself in Great Falls
Downtown Great Falls combines shopping and boutiques with cultural attractions and Gibson Park. The City of Great Falls also highlights the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art and the C.M. Russell Museum, making those stops natural anchors for a day in the city centre.
For a museum-focused outing, choose one institution first and add the other if your timing allows. The two museums offer different experiences: one centres on Charles M. Russell and his home and studio, while the other occupies a historic sandstone building.
Museums and Cultural Stops
Great Falls city centre has two distinct museum stops: the C.M. Russell Museum and Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art.
C.M. Russell Museum
The C.M. Russell Museum, at 400 13th Street North, features Charles M. Russell’s art, his home and log studio, and changing exhibitions. Its seasonal schedule runs Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from October through April, and daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from May through September.
Admission is $20 for adults, $17 for seniors age 60 and older and veterans, and $7 for students; active military, their families and children age 5 and under enter free. Scheduled tour groups pay $17 per person and must book two weeks ahead. You can plan the visit with this guide to the C.M. Russell Museum.
Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art
Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art is at 1400 1st Avenue North. Its sandstone building was completed in 1896 and served as Central High School for 34 years, then Paris Gibson Junior High for 45 years. After closing in 1975, it reopened as Paris Gibson Square in 1977. Admission and off-street parking are free.
The museum’s hours are Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is closed Sunday and Monday.
Accessibility features include an elevator on all floors, first-floor accessible bathrooms, a wheelchair near the elevator, a powered west entrance door, and wheelchair-accessible galleries, classrooms and gift shop. The Paris Gibson Square visitor guide covers this art museum in more detail.
Museum schedules, admission and services can change, so check the official site before you go. Use the C.M. Russell Museum’s site for its hours and admission, the museum’s site for Paris Gibson Square, Great Falls Transit’s site for service details, and the City of Great Falls’ site for parking information.
Local Services and Visitor Essentials
Great Falls Transit runs weekday and Saturday service, while downtown parking can be paid through an app or at a kiosk.
Transit service runs Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. There is no service on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day.
For downtown parking, Passport Parking is an app option and Flowbird kiosks are another way to pay. Kiosks accept coins, bills and cards. App payments use your vehicle’s license plate number rather than a parking-space number.
How do you get between the city centre and the hotel?
From Central Motel, Great Falls city centre is about a five-minute drive or a 32-minute walk. This 31-room motel in Great Falls operates year-round, 24 hours.
FAQs
Which museums can you visit in Great Falls city centre?
The C.M. Russell Museum and Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art are both among the city’s highlighted visitor attractions.
Is admission free at Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art?
Yes. The museum has free admission and free off-street parking.
Does Great Falls Transit run on Sundays?
The service hours cover weekdays and Saturdays. Great Falls Transit does not provide service on the holidays named in its schedule.
Where can you pay for downtown parking?
The Passport Parking app and Flowbird kiosks are downtown payment options.