Great Falls is recognized as the Museum Capital of Montana, with ten museums within city limits—more than any other city in the state. The museums cover Western art, Lewis and Clark history, railroads, military aviation, contemporary art, local history, and children’s education. Many offer free admission days or modest fees, making regular visits accessible for families and professionals alike.
Highlights
The city’s cultural centerpiece, the C.M. Russell Museum, houses the world’s largest collection of Charles M. Russell’s work and more than 3,000 pieces of Western art. The campus includes Russell’s original log cabin studio and home. Each March, Western Art Week brings 750 artists and collectors to Great Falls, temporarily transforming the city into a global Western art hub.
Highlights
Housed in a restored 1896 high school, Paris Gibson Square focuses on contemporary and self-taught art, with exhibitions rotating every six to eight weeks. The museum balances historic architecture with modern galleries and offers classes, workshops, artist talks, and school programming.
Highlights
Overlooking the Missouri River, this 25,000-square-foot center interprets the Corps of Discovery expedition, including the historic Great Falls portage. Interactive exhibits, films, and ranger programs present both expedition history and Indigenous perspectives.
Highlights
Great Falls also hosts the History Museum, Montana Museum of Railroad History, Malmstrom Museum and Air Park, Montana Veterans Memorial, and the Children’s Museum of Montana, offering free or low-cost access to regional, military, and hands-on educational history.
For a city of roughly 60,000, Great Falls offers exceptional cultural depth—ten museums, a professional symphony, a historic performing arts venue, and year-round arts programming. Cultural life here is accessible, affordable, and participatory, allowing residents to engage regularly rather than treating arts and culture as rare special occasions.
Great Falls is home to over 100 Christian churches spanning diverse denominations, theological traditions, and worship styles, offering physicians and families options that match their faith preferences without needing to travel long distances. Congregations range from formal, liturgical traditions to contemporary, casual worship, from conservative to progressive theology, and from large multi-staff churches to small fellowship communities.
The Catholic presence is significant, with St. Ann’s Cathedral—completed in 1907 in Neo-Gothic style—serving as the diocesan seat for Great Falls-Billings. Additional parishes, including Holy Family, Saints Peter and Paul, and St. Martin de Porres Mission, serve neighborhoods throughout the city.
Protestant options include Lutheran (12), Baptist (9), Methodist (6), Episcopal (3), Presbyterian (2), Church of the Nazarene (2), Church of God (3), and 13 non-denominational/independent congregations. This diversity reflects both Montana’s settlement history and contemporary religious pluralism.
Key points:
Great Falls offers a broad range of Christian congregations, from long-established mainline Protestant churches to contemporary non-denominational communities. Churches such as First Presbyterian, Trinity Lutheran, First English Lutheran, Our Saviour’s Lutheran, and Bethel Lutheran have served the community for decades, offering traditional worship, education programs for all ages, youth ministries, and ongoing community service—providing stable church homes for newcomers.
More contemporary options include Fresh Life Church, New City Church, Antioch Church, and other non-denominational congregations that emphasize accessible worship, contemporary music, casual environments, and practical teaching. These churches often attract younger families and reflect national trends toward non-denominational Christianity alongside traditional affiliations.
In addition, specialized ministries support a wide range of life circumstances, including campus ministries, hospital chaplaincy at Benefis Health System, military chaplains serving Malmstrom Air Force Base, prison ministry, and parachurch organizations. Together, these resources create a supportive faith ecosystem that extends beyond any single congregation.
Key points:
The Catholic Diocese of Great Falls–Billings plays a significant role in education and social services across the region. The diocese operates ten Catholic schools serving more than 2,200 students from elementary through high school, offering faith-based education alongside strong academic programs.
Catholic social services extend beyond parish life to address community needs, including adoption and pregnancy support, refugee resettlement, food and emergency assistance, senior services, and community development initiatives. Guided by Catholic social teaching, these programs serve individuals and families regardless of religious affiliation. The Ursuline Retreat and Conference Center hosts retreats, meetings, and community events for a wide range of organizations.
Key points:
Congregation Aitz Chaim (the Great Falls Hebrew Association) is the primary organized Jewish community serving Great Falls and north-central Montana. Affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism and the Montana Association of Jewish Communities, the congregation offers regular worship services, religious education, cultural programming, and opportunities for community connection.
Montana’s Jewish population is small and geographically dispersed. Congregation Aitz Chaim gathers for weekly Shabbat services, Torah study, High Holy Day observances, and lifecycle events, sustaining Jewish practice and community life despite the challenges of a smaller population.
Key points:
Great Falls does not currently have an established mosque or Islamic center. The nearest mosques are located in Billings (about 220 miles east) and Bozeman (about 200 miles west). Montana’s Muslim population is relatively small and geographically dispersed.
Muslim physicians should anticipate regional travel for Friday prayers and major observances, home-based prayer practices, or informal gatherings with other local Muslims. The presence of Malmstrom Air Force Base brings some Muslim service members and families, offering potential for gradual community growth.
Great Falls does not have established Hindu temples or Buddhist meditation centers, reflecting the small size of these faith communities in Montana. Hindu physicians should expect regional or out-of-state travel for temple services and major celebrations. Buddhist practitioners may find informal meditation groups or yoga offerings locally, with formal centers primarily in university towns.
Baha'i, Sikh, and other minority faith communities similarly lack established institutions in Great Falls, with practitioners relying on home-based practice, online resources, and periodic regional travel.
Great Falls demonstrates general religious tolerance and interfaith cooperation, with churches participating in community service projects, interfaith Thanksgiving services, disaster response coordination, and civic engagement. These efforts reflect shared commitment to community well-being.
The Ursuline Retreat and Conference Center hosts gatherings for religious, civic, and nonprofit organizations regardless of affiliation, providing neutral space for collaboration.
Congregational policies on contemporary religious questions vary widely. Physicians should research specific congregations to understand theology and culture rather than assuming uniformity. Most congregations welcome visitors and encourage exploration before commitment.
Physicians relocating to Great Falls should begin exploring congregations before or immediately after arrival. Establishing religious community connections provides spiritual support and social integration. Most churches maintain websites with service times and theological information.
Medical professionals often find service opportunities aligned with their expertise, including health ministries, medical mission trips, congregation care teams, and leadership roles.
Physicians from minority faith traditions should consider whether regional travel, home-based practice, or informal gatherings adequately meet family needs. These considerations significantly affect quality of life.
Great Falls provides diverse Christian worship options across denominations and worship styles, with more than 100 churches serving the community. The Jewish community maintains organized presence through Congregation Aitz Chaim, while Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and other minority faith practitioners face challenges due to limited local institutions. Physicians should carefully evaluate how available religious resources align with their faith traditions and family needs when considering relocation to Great Falls.
