Montana, Museums, and Mermaids
In March '23, Medworks' Service Rep, Greta Holm traveled from Virginia to Montana to cover cases. Read about her adventures out West.
Day 1: Giant Springs State Park and Benton Lake NWR
My trip began with a visit to Giant Springs State Park, located in Great Falls. As I drove along the Missouri River, I spotted the Black Eagle Falls and Dam, one of the town’s namesake attractions, and stopped to capture some photos. Visiting this site was the perfect way to start my journey, as I would soon learn of its historical significance to Great Falls.
Giant Springs is one of the largest freshwater springs in the United States. I greatly enjoyed walking through the park along the Missouri River in the fresh Montana air. One of the features of this park which I found to be most fascinating was that it serves as the junction between the country’s shortest river, the Roe River, and its longest river, the Missouri.
I decided that seeing a sunset at the Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge would be the perfect way to end my first day in Montana. From the Information Center I was able to see the vast extent of the plains, and I observed a beautiful sunset.
Day 2: Great Falls Hospital, C.M. Russell Museum, Sip n’ Dip Lounge
The staff at Great Falls Hospital were very nice and thankful that I was there. The surgery was successful and there were no problems. During the case, Dr. Fukuda and I discussed Montana and Virginia history. It turns out Dr. Fukuda participated in the Gettysburg 150th Pickett’s Charge Civil War Reenactment! The reenactment can be watched here: Gettysburg 150th - Pickett's Charge (Civil War Reenactment)
Dr. Fukuda suggested I explore the C.M. Russell Museum before my departure, and it was well worth the visit. Charles Marion Russell was an artist and Native American rights advocate who resided in Montana from 1882 until his death in 1926. He is known as the “cowboy artist” and is somewhat of a folk hero to the residents of Great Falls. His original home and art studio remain behind the museum and are open to the public.
Russell’s paintings gave me a glimpse into the American Old West. I spent so long admiring his work that I was only able to see half the museum! I look forward to seeing the other half the next time I am in Great Falls.
I ended my second day in Great Falls with dinner at the famous Sip n’ Dip Lounge where one can view mermaids swimming behind the bar. Interacting with the mermaids was a lot of fun. One even played “rock, paper, scissors” with me!
Day 3: Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center
My final destination before my flight home was the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. It being a Tuesday morning, I fortunately had the museum to myself. I was given a personal tour from a nice, knowledgeable man named Russ. Russ was in his 90’s, and had lived in Montana his entire life. He told me he could still remember seeing native Americans in traditional clothing fishing with spears in the Missouri River!
I had enough time to watch two films about the last leg of the Lewis and Clark expedition, and made it through the entire museum. The exhibits were arranged chronologically from the time the explorers landed in Great Falls, to their arrival at the Pacific Ocean. When Lewis and Clark arrived in Great Falls, they expected that they would need to traverse one waterfall, but were confronted with five! This meant that they had to drag their canoes over the plains surrounding the Missouri River, an excursion that took over two weeks. I was surprised to learn about how often the exhibition was nearly terminated, only to be saved by sheer luck. For example, if Lewis and Clark had not convinced the Shoshone to give them horses, they never would have been able to cross the Rockies. The Shoshone chief just so happened to be Sacagawea’s brother, so their request was granted.
In conclusion, my visit to Montana was both educating and rejuvenating. I look forward to representing Medworks out west sometime in the near future!