Northeast Route 2001

        Our Visit to the Charlie Russell Museum was a lot of fun.  We got to see a lot of his artwork along with his home and personal belongings.  His artwork ranged from sculptures to paintings of Indians and cowboys.  His sculptures usually consisted of horses with cowboys on them in a bucking style.  He also had a lot of sculptures of Indians either hunting buffalo or women of the tribe doing tasks.  Many sculptures were quite large and yet they would be held up by what looks almost like a tooth pick.  It is amazing how he balanced the art not only to the eye, but actually to scale.  Paintings of elk, a wolf, a holdup and Indians coming upon the first railroad were particular highlights.

        His house was also a fun place to explore.  Yet it is not his original house.  The Garden Club took it upon themselves to restore the dilapidated house and make it available to the public.  Inside the house they have a lot of antiques that are not old belongings of the Russell’s yet are still from the same era.  In the house they do have quite a few things that did once belong to the Russell’s though.  They even have the bed that Charlie died in.  Yet the most interesting thing would probably be his studio in the back.

        This studio was once closer to the house but they had to move it back to make sure that if the house were to catch on fire, the studio would not be in range of hot fire debris.  In the studio are many of his personal items.  They have a lot of his actual painting supplies.  This was not only his art studio though, as he and his friends also used to go in there on Sunday mornings and just talk. 

        This museum was very fun and I would like to go back someday.  It was a lot of fun getting to learn about one of the most famous artists of the West.  I finally know why all the teachers are so impressed with this artist!

Check our link to the Charlie Russell Museum