Helena, Part 2

Sunday we had breakfast and drove 18 miles north of Helena to take a 2-hour tour to see Gates of the Mountains. The Gates of the Mountains is a name which Meriwether Lewis gave to canyon walls which protrude into the Missouri River from opposite directions so closely to each other that they appear to open and close like gates when approached by boats. We didn't see any wildlife other than ospreys and one eagle. The scenery was beautiful and the boat captain pointed out many interesting rock formations and told about several forest fires that have occurred in the area.

After the tour we drove back into Helena and had lunch, and then decided to tour the state Capitol. We were just in time for the 2 p.m. tour, and to our delight, the tour guide was the same man that we had met on Saturday when we toured the old Governor's Mansion! The Capitol was restored during 1999-2000 ad is beautiful. It was built in 1902 and the same plans were used for the South Dakota Capitol! Charles Russell's 25' x 12' painting of Lewis and Clark meeting with the Salish Indians to trade for horses is considered his best work. It's official title is Lewis and Clark Meeting Indians at Ross' Hole. It was so large that the roof of his studio had to be raised to accommodate the mural. When we're in Great Falls later this week, I'm looking forward to visiting his studio.

Today we spent 5 hours exploring the Montana State Museum. There were several exhibit halls: One on Glacier National Park, the works of Charles Russell, the Indian cultures of the state, and one on the history of Montana, and Big Medicine, the white buffalo. My favorites were the exhibits on Glacier Park and the Charles Russell exhibit. There were oils, pencil sketches, water colors, and sculptures showing his talent. Of special interest were 12 linen privacy screens that were used at his cabin in Glacier which had his sketches on them, and each summer his friends signed the screen, and many drew pictures as well. One name of interest to me was a man whose last name was Krebs.....

Tomorrow we move 81 miles north to Great Falls.