History of Great Falls, Montana, USA

Great Falls was founded in 1883.

1891 - FOUR KILLED BY AN EXPLOSION.
GREAT FALLS, Mont., Oct. 27. - A party who arrived in town from the end of the Pacific extension of the Great Northern brought the news of an accident there, the result of which is appalling. Four men are dead and two maimed for life by an explosion twenty-two miles west of the summit.

The men were killed last Wednesday in a rock cut on some work under Sub-contractor O'Brien. The hole in the rock containing some powder became choked with rock, and the foreman started to drill it out. About the first blow of the drill penetrated a spark which in turn ignited the powder. The force of the explosion blew out the bottom of the drill hole, instantly killing two men and maiming several others. The men who were drilling escaped with a few powder burns.

The smoke of the blast had hardly disappeared when the foreman, whose order had brought death on his fellow workmen, took to the woods and was seen no more. He left none too quick, for the infuriated workmen were on the point of lynching... Read MORE...

1902 - Child Crushed by coach. Three Year Old Girl of Great Falls Ran Over and Killed.
The Lewiston coach ran down and crushed to death GLADYS CHAMBERLAIN, the three year old daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Samuel Chamberlain at Great Falls, Mont. The accident occurred directly in front of the little ones home, where she was taken and died half an hour later. The heavy wheels of the coach passed directly over the body of the child. After the accident the coach went on to the stable of the company on Third avenue without stopping and the driver was working about there and had made no mention of the killing. He was at once taken before the county attorney and gave his name as M. S. HOWE, claiming to have been a driver for a number of years. Owing to an extra large amount of business HOWE was put in charge of an extra coach from Lewistown and it was his first trip. He claimed to have been unable to control his horses, they having been frightened by an approaching street car. His reason given for not turning back was that he did not believe the child was hurt.
American Eagle
Murray, Utah
September 27, 1902

1911 - FORMER RESIDENT OF CITY KILLED. J. M. McCoy Was Struck by Passenger Train at Great Falls Friday Evening.
J. M. McCoy, formerly a resident of Grand Forks, was struck by a Great Northern passenger train while walking across a railroad bridge at Great Falls, Mont., Friday evening and died Saturday morning. Miss Anna McCoy, who left the city a short time ago for Great Falls, but who was visiting in Grand Junction, Colo., at the time, is a daughter.

In the accident Mr. McCoy was thrown over the bridge and to the rocks near the water's edge. His skull was fractured, one ankle was broken and he was otherwise badly injured. He never regained consciousness.

Mr. McCoy was a bridge contractor in Montana and had made that state his home for only a short time. Mrs. McCoy was at Helena, Mont., at the time of his death, not arriving in Great Falls until Saturday evening.

Funeral services were held in Great Falls Sunday.

In addition to Miss Anna McCoy, who is very well known in Grand Forks, there also is another daughter, Miss Eva.
The Grand Forks Daily Herald
Grand Forks, North Dakota
September 26, 1911

1916
Great Falls, a city, capital of Cascade co., Mont., on the Missouri River and on the Great Northern R., 99 miles NE. by N. of Helena. It has large smelting- and reduction-works, breweries, flouring-mills, etc. It is an important shipping point for wool. Pop. in 1900, 14,930. The Missouri at this place has a total fall of 500 feet and is contracted from upward of half a mile to 300 yards. Elevation of the city, 3200 feet above the sea.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher

1946 - ARMY PLANE HITS CROWDED STABLE AT MONTANA FAIR. TWO BOMBERS IN MID-AIR COLLISION; 8 DEAD, AT LEAST TEN HURT.
Great Falls, Mont. - Police said today at least eight persons were killed and ten hurt when two Army bombers collided over the State Fair grounds yesterday and one of them crashed in flames into a crowded stable.

Sheriff's deputies and volunteer workers searched the smoking ruins of the stable for additional victims.

Officials of the annual North Montana State Fair said twenty valuable thoroughbreds perished in the blaze.

Two low-flying A-26 attack bombers collided before 50,000 horrified State Fair spectators during an exhibition by Army pilots from Great Falls Army Air Base.

One of the crippled planes plummeted directly into the crowded stable, exploding inside the structure. The other plane ploughed into the earth more than five miles away.

The flames were so intense, would-be rescuers stood helplessly, while the stable became a blazing oven filled with shrieking human and animal victims.

Police Chief HAROLD MADY of Great Falls said it was still impossible to... Read MORE...

1949 - Man Looking for Gas Leak Finds It by Lighting Match; Fire Extinguished.
Great Falls, Dec. 30 - (AP) - It finally happened.

A gas company employe, checking a report of escaping gas in a Great Falls residence Friday afternoon, went looking for the leak with matches, city firemen reported. He found it.

Firemen extinguished the blaze after some damage resulted. The fire was at the home of Theodore Remus.

Mrs. Remus, after smelling the escaping gas, had notified the city-county health office, reporting the leak and asking that they call the gas company.

Later she phoned again, saying the gas man sent up had tried to find the leak by lighting a match.

"Now my house is on fire." she said.
Billings Gazette
Billings, Montana
December 31, 1949

1954 - March 21 - KFBB TV channel 5 in Great Falls, MT (ABC/CBS/NBC) begins broadcasting

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Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Great Falls:
**1. ** Great Falls Park: Start your journey at this picturesque park, which offers stunning views of the Missouri River and five mesmerizing waterfalls. Take a hike, have a picnic, or simply enjoy the natural beauty around you.

**2. ** C.M. Russell Museum: Dive into the art and history of the region at this museum dedicated to Charles M. Russell, one of America's greatest Western artists. The museum showcases a vast collection of his paintings and sculptures.

**3. ** Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center: Explore the Lewis and Clark Expedition's journey at this center. With interactive exhibits and educational programs, it provides a fascinating insight into the Corps of Discovery's exploration.

**4. ** Giant Springs State Park: Visit one of the largest freshwater springs in the country. Giant Springs produces millions of gallons of crystal-clear water daily. Take a leisurely stroll along the river or visit the fish hatchery nearby.

**5. ** First People's Buffalo Jump State ... Read MORE...