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Russell Country inspired its namesake, Charlie Russell, (1864-1926) to document both the drama and the innocence of the American West. Russell, whose original home and log studio are now part of the C. M. Russell Museum Complex in Great Falls, used much of the rich landscaped of the region as backdrop for his creations. In addition to museums of the artists' works, visitors to this region can find ghost towns, diverse wildlife, unique geological terrain and one of the foremost dinosaur fossil observation preserves in the world.
The Missouri River, adjacent floodplains, timbered coulees and prairies host Russell Country's diverse habitat where more than 200 varieties of birds, 20 types of reptiles and over 60 species of mammals roam. In the far southeast section of the region, Missouri Breaks National Back Country Byway traverses one of the most geologically unique areas in Montana. Its ruggedly spectacular landscape was first described by Lewis and Clark as "the Deserts of America." Fur traders would later refer to this section of the Missouri River as the "Bad Lands."
Bob Scriver's cast iron, larger than life sculpture of Lewis, Clark and Sacajawea stand sentinel over the Missouri River in Lewis & Clark State Park. Nearby Fort Benton displays several interesting historic sites, including the tree-canopied Old Fort Park and the Museum of the Upper Missouri.
Great Falls, coined "The Electric City" due to its numerous dams and power plants along the Missouri River, is Montana's third largest city. The Ryan Dam has replaced the great, formidable falls that held the Corp of Discovery back for over a month. Lewis & Clark National Interpretative Center, located on a bluff above the Missouri River, provides an ideal view of the terrain they encountered along their portage of the Great Falls. The center is convenient to the many other sights of Great Falls as well, namely Crooked Falls and Rainbow Falls viewed from River Drive just outside the city. Black Eagle Falls can be seen from River Drive en route to Giant Springs Heritage State Park.
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