The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

We were traveling through on our way to Alaska and stopped here to visit the center. Amazing! There is afee to enter, however if you hold the America the Beautiful pass, senior pass or military pass, or any of the other federal passes, you enter for free. The history here was so enlightening. We learned things we did not know. They have movies throughout the day on different subjects. We arched the one on the Portage. So interesting. You can enter the theater from the upper or lower level. The exhibits in the center were very informative. The exhibits are mostly on the lower level. There are stairs or you can take an elevator. There are items of interest outside and a fantastic walking path along the Missouri River. The staff was so wonderful. There is also a small gift shop. I collect magnets so I was able to pick one up. There is a great covered picnic area over near the teepee that you can enjoy lunch or a snack. After we visited the center, we knew we had to drive out to the Great Falls waterfall, which we wouldn't have known about if we hadn't stopped here. If you are coming to stay in Great Falls or just passing through, you really need to stop here.

A great museum for adults, I think it wouldn't be as fun for kids. This is a beautiful building in a gorgeous location! We paid and went right in to the theater. The video was not too long and very informative. The main part of the museum is downstairs and it was easy to follow the path from room to room. There are some really great artifacts and pictures. My favorites were the earth house and log boat. There was a lot of reading but if you're interested in the topic it was all very interesting and worthwhile. I would love to come back in summer and do some of the paths in the area. There is a gift shop but I can't say it has a lot of ready stuff, pretty basic. Overall a great experience and worth the visit.

This was an excellent Lewis and Clark exhibit! We have been traveling the Lewis and Clark trail and have visited many different centers. This is the most complete, covering all parts and days of the voyage. Great for kids too!

Arguably the best part of this museum is the staff (the same does not apply to the gift shop staff … that was a bad experience) they were knowledgeable, fun, and really seemed to enjoy their jobs. Aside from the staff, the museum itself was well done. The exhibits were well explained and told the story of Lewis and Clark with clarity. One item of note, at the end of exhibits are a few cases of guns, go to that case and look at the top most gun at the front. That’s a replica of the repeating air rifle, a true marvel of engineering and what the Indians were shown as Lewis and Clark traveled. Imagine seeing a rifle that didn’t need gunpowder, was quiet when shot, and didn’t create muzzle flash. That’d be fairly amazing to see in a world of muzzle loaded weapons. Anyway, highly recommend place to visit.

I had an excellent experience here. The museum has lots of very interesting exhibits, and all of the descriptions are very well made. I learned a lot of the local history just from my short visit, but I could have been entertained there all day. I highly recommend, and I will be stopping by again to check out some areas I missed.

Interesting presentation of Lewis and Clark's expedition across untamed America. It covers the incredibly difficult and brutal conditions these men endured crossing the continent.

CLOSED!! Looks to be very nice, the walk is very cute. The center is closed as of yesterday because of the gov shutdown

Nice center with pleasant staff. Clean place, clean bathrooms. The various displays appeared to display more of the positive side of the Lewis and Clark expedition(s), but kind of glossed over some of the "not great" aspects. I think it would have been beneficial to give more of an explanation of the not great aspects of the journey, the explorers' encounters with various Indian tribes, and treatment of women. Separately, there are nice walking paths outside, with nice views of the river. The cost I think is $8pp, unless you have a national parks pass (in which case, you'd get in for free). Military also get in for free.

Do bring your National Parks pass if you have one, it'll get you in for free. Budget a minimum of 2 hours, ideally 3 to see everything here. It's slow going because of the great interpretive signage that you will want to read. Do watch the introductory movie before you start with the exhibits, it'll give you a lot of context. Don't rush through the exhibits, and do as many of the hands-on activities you have time for. The centerpiece is the life-sized model of the crew hauling a dugout up a hill that stretches over several floors. The detail is incredible. When you are done take the short river walk over to Giant Springs - they are very close together and the walk is really pleasant.

The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center is a great place to learn more about the area of Great Falls Montana, and the historical events that took place here. The museum is filled with visuals and descriptive accounts of the struggling journey L&C went thought to get to the west coast. Using the best learning modalities and very detailed historical stories, helps anyone clueless about what happened here. This is a must stop for those in the L&C trail, heading to Oregon. We loved the staff, for being so friendly and helping the kids. We enjoyed every part of the museum. Spend at least 2 hours here. There is a lot to see.

Only reason it isn't a five is because the movie portion of the museum wasn't working, no fault of anyone's. It's beautiful

This is the best of the two or three other Lewis and Clark Interpretive Centers we have seen. Lots more detail - all of it interesting. Prepare to give yourself plenty of time. The staff was very helpful and cheerful.

We had a good time at the museum. The film was informative. There are a lot of displays in the museum. I would have loved to have taken the walk along the river to the falls overlooks but it was in the mid 90's when we were there so that was a big no. I would recommend coming here and learning the history of the expedition.

Definitely make time for this if you are near Great Falls. I learned so much, and I actually had a really good chunk of American history in school. Those old explorers were sure tough! Fascinating look at western expansion and the different cultures and trade practices of the people that lived at that time.

What a wonder.....this center was amazing. Free admission in January and February which was nice. The volunteers and tour guides were friendly and knowledgable. This was a walk back through history with beautiful views. There are indoor and outdoor activities. There is a 20 minute free movie for history buffs. I was impressed. We were able to see all five falls. There is a gift shop. Handicap accessible and plenty of parking in a lot. We enjoyed ourselves.

This museum is so cool. We've been a few times now, and always learn something new. The first time we visited, they featured an ancient weapons historian who was so kind about sharing his knowledge and demonstrating how each weapon was used. Last time, a service dog Newfoundland was there to greet people and to help people understand who Seaman, L&Cs dog, was and how big he was! The museum itself is incredibly curated. I love the language display and the massive windows that overlook the river. There's a lot of text--read it all. It's packed with gems! Can't wait to come back again soon!

Right inside the park inside had lots of history and the story of Lewis and Clark. Worth stopping

There isn't a ton to see here, but I am going to round up to 4 stars because the people were great and it is American history. There is a cost to get into the center, but if you have a National Parks pass it is waived since they are managed by the NPS. The displays start by taking you to St Louis in the spring of 1804. As you move from room to room the time takes you up river to each different encounter. I especially liked the part where they cross the Rocky Mountains and how they change the path to reflect this. I would not go out of my way to visit, but if close by I would stop. What did I learn today? A confirmation to my children that I say Sacagawea's name correctly (Sa-cog-a-we-a).

One of the nicest Interpretive Centers we've ever visited. We saved the $8 entry fee by using our Senior NP pass. If you have ever wanted to learn the true story about the Lewis & Clark expedition this is the place to visit. It is all set up in phases, with 6,500 square feet of exhibit space, so it takes you from the start and the reason for the journey all the way to the finish. The various phases are in rooms with historical facts on the wall with simulated artifacts and things to really tell you the story. There is also a large theater that show two films alternately. There is also a nice gift shop. It is amazing and if you are anywhere near take the time to visit. It is more than worth the price. If you have the time there is a beautiful walk that will take you down to the river. It's an easy walk down but, remember that you have to come back uphill.

This is a fantastic place to visit, for all ages. They tell the whole story of the Lewis & Clark Expedition in the exhibits, along with very informative films. There is a Junior Ranger packet for the kids, and a scavenger hunt. If you're in Central Montana, don't miss it!

This is a very well done interpretive center that gives you one of the more complete histories of the expedition. There is plenty of hands on activities that will help to keep the kids engaged. Staffed with volunteers, you can tell the team here is very passionate about their work. The facility is also meticulously maintained, just all in all a great place to visit for a great story.

So glad I visited ... terrific location overlooking the river, as others have said. Well done exhibit , really explained a lot to me, nice interactive pieces for the kids. Super clear chronology and context of the evolving journey. And now I know why it's called Great Falls!

This is one of the more interactive museums i have ever been to. Great way to learn about that period of time and the journey that Lewis and Clark embarked on with their Corps of discovery. There are rooms and rooms of clothing, stuffed animals, replicas of weapons and tools, visual and audio boards to learn interesting tid-bits Definitely a place for all ages :)

Informative. Even with the limited collection available due to Covid, worthwhile exhibit to check out.

The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center is one of the most amazing places to visit during your stay in Montana. From the buffalo statues to the massive display of portaging canoes, this museum will have you awestruck for at least a good three hours. One of the most interesting aspects of the museum is the map of the world, where people from all corners of the Earth leave their mark upon visiting. Of course, my party couldn't resist placing a red pin on Armenia. In addition to the mazes upon mazes of history displayed throughout the museum, there is also a theatre where you can watch and listen to movies and lectures about the Lewis and Clark expedition. My favorite part of my visit was when my friends and I dressed up in the many outfits, including Native Americans and soldier uniforms, and took pictures. Another fun thing to do is measure how many miles you have the strength to canoe a day (in the Lewis and Clark canoes, of course!). You basically tug on this rope and the miles are displayed. I scored a whopping nine! Haha. While the museum is massive enough to get lost in for many hours, the gift store is a bit lacking. I would highly recommend it to be bigger with a wider variety of souvenirs. At any rate, my visit here was truly an experience I will never forget. Hats off to Great Falls, Montana!

A very thorough review of the Lewis & Clark expedition and although there was an attempt to balance European & Native American viewpoints during that time--it inevitably is more European-centric. I give them kudos for attempting but I wish there had been a bit more. Otherwise, as I said, a very thorough museum with very friendly staff.

A small but focused museum that attempts to balance European American and Native American perspectives on the Lewis and Clark expedition. The exhibits are roughly chronological with a lot of detail about the technical and geographical aspects of the trip (portaging, supplying, navigation, climate, wildlife, and so on). Another area of focus is anthropological information about indigenous tribes the expedition encountered and Native oral history of those encounters. Kids might enjoy the interactive aspects of the museum (playing dress-up, tying Hidatsa rope harnesses on a horse head) and various discussion questions throughout the exhibit. The volunteers are exceptionally enthusiastic. All of them have a passionate interest in the history of the Great Falls area and a keen desire to help visitors discover new information. The museum also shows two informative short films repeatedly throughout the day (followed by short slideshow talks by volunteers) and stages various special events. On the day I visited, there was an outdoors demonstration of antique black powder rifles. While I enjoyed the mostly well-written exhibits, and the collection of objects is interesting, the museum does have some deficiencies. The Native voices could use more emphasis; while some features talk about modern Great Falls in terms of how the river looks, the modern life of Montana indigenous peoples is not well-highlighted. The museum would do well to enhance the small section at the end with more information about the continuance and vibrancy of Native cultures. And as another reviewer mentioned, the gift shop is small. Other than that, the museum is a good way to spend a few hours in Great Falls. If you have a National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass, admission is free.

Great place to take the kids! Amazing set up. Our kids 3 and 8 had a blast walking though and learning!!

Must stop in Great Falls, primarily because there is little else to do. Fun time, nice people.

This is worth a drive to Great Falls. The facility is beautiful and the historical walk with Lewis & Clark brought their history and those with them to life. The staff was very helpful and knowledgeable.

Well worth the time you spend here. More about Lewis & Clark than you ever knew and an eager and knowledgeable staff that will help you through the place. If you are interested in history, or American expansion, this is a don't miss place.

Very cool place to take the kids and get some culture and history. Montana has a lot to offer.