C. M. Russell Museum Complex
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C.M. Russell Museum Complex
| Charles M. Russell House and Studio | |
|---|---|
| (U.S. National Historic Landmark) | |
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| Location: | 1217-1219 4th Avenue, North, Great Falls, Montana |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Built/Founded: | 1900 |
| Architect: | Unknown |
| Architectural style(s): | No Style Listed |
| Designated as NHL: | December 21, 1965[1] |
| Added to NRHP: | October 15, 1966[2] |
| NRHP Reference#: | 66000430 |
| Governing body: | Local |
Contents |
[edit] C.M. Russell Museum
A museum complex in Great Falls, Montana dedicated to the life and works of hometown western artist Charles M. Russell. The first museum was opened in 1953 after Josephine Trigg left a large family collection to the people of Great Falls with the stipulation that a public museum be built to display them.
The present museum complex includes a large museum, a home built by Russell in 1900, and a log cabin studio, built in 1903. The museum owns the largest collection of Russell work in the world, with over 2,000 pieces of art, personal objects, and artifacts. The museum displays not only C.M. Russell's works, but also works of other well known western artists, with a total collection to approximately 12,000 objects. The museum recently unveiled a new collection of 50 bronzes by the late Montana artist Robert Scriver. Also housed in the museum is the Frederic G. Renner Library. The library is a non-circulating, research library dedicated the study of Russell, as well as, other western art and artists.
The complex has five galleries dedicated to Russell's work, including one housing letter he wrote to friends during his lifetime. What makes these letter interesting is that Russell would draw pictures on the stationary, thus making every letter a piece of art.
[edit] Galleries
- Gallery 1 - Browning Firearm's Collection
- Gallery 2 - Russell's Early Years
- Gallery 3 & 4 - Russell (1880-1900)
- Gallery 5 - Russell Letters
- Gallery 6 - Russell (1900 to his death in 1926)
- Gallery 7 - Paintings of O.C. Seltzer, and family
- Gallery 8 - Sculptures of E.E. Heikka
- Gallery 9 - Contemporty western artists, including Rudy Autio, Deborah Butterfield, Russell Chatham, Kevin Red Star, Walter Piehl, Isabelle Johnson, and Cyrus Afsary (to name a few)
- Gallery 10, 12 & 13 - Changing galleries, which include artwork by Russell contemporaries such as J.H. Sharp, Frank Tenney Johnson, John Fery, and Henry Famy
- Gallery 14 - Bronzes by Jay Contway
- Gallery 15 - Marble sculptures by Gerald Balciar and a miniature wagon collection by Dale Ford
[edit] Charles M. Russell House and Studio
The former home and studio of Russell were moved to the present complex location, and were listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1965.[1][3]
[edit] C.M. Russell Art Auction
Every year in March the Great Falls Advertising Federation puts on an auction that benefits the museum.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b Charles M. Russell House and Studio. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2007-10-30.
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
- ^ Blanche Higgins Schroer (September 2, 1976), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Charles M. Russell House and StudioPDF (1.05 MiB), National Park Service and Accompanying 7 photos, plan and exterior, from 1972, 1973, and 1975.PDF (0.98 MiB)
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