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.
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.
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.
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.
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 more than 100 Christian churches spanning a wide range of denominations, theological traditions, and worship styles. Physicians and families can find congregations that align with their faith preferences without traveling long distances. Options range from formal, liturgical services to contemporary, casual worship; from theologically conservative to progressive; and from large, multi-staff churches to small fellowship communities.
The Catholic presence is particularly strong. St. Ann’s Cathedral, completed in 1907 in Neo-Gothic style, serves as the diocesan seat for the Diocese of Great Falls–Billings. Additional parishes—including Holy Family, Saints Peter and Paul, and St. Martin de Porres Mission—serve neighborhoods throughout the city.
Protestant congregations reflect significant denominational diversity, including Lutheran (12), Baptist (9), Methodist (6), Episcopal (3), Presbyterian (2), Church of the Nazarene (2), Church of God (3), and 13 non-denominational or independent churches. This variety reflects both Montana’s settlement history and modern religious pluralism.
Great Falls offers a broad mix of long-established mainline Protestant churches and newer contemporary congregations. Churches such as First Presbyterian, Trinity Lutheran, First English Lutheran, Our Saviour’s Lutheran, and Bethel Lutheran have served the community for decades, providing traditional worship, education for all ages, youth ministries, and community service opportunities.
Contemporary worship options include Fresh Life Church, New City Church, Antioch Church, and other non-denominational congregations emphasizing accessible worship, modern music, casual environments, and practical teaching. These churches often attract younger families while reflecting broader national trends in Christian worship.
Specialized ministries further strengthen the faith ecosystem, including campus ministries, hospital chaplaincy at Benefis Health System, military chaplains serving Malmstrom Air Force Base, prison ministries, and parachurch organizations. Together, these resources extend spiritual support beyond any single congregation.
The Catholic Diocese of Great Falls–Billings plays a major role in regional education and social services. The diocese operates ten Catholic schools serving more than 2,200 students from elementary through high school, combining faith formation with strong academic instruction.
Catholic social services extend well beyond parish life, supporting the broader community through adoption and pregnancy support, refugee resettlement, food and emergency assistance, senior services, and community development initiatives. Guided by Catholic social teaching, these services are available regardless of religious affiliation. The Ursuline Retreat and Conference Center further supports religious, civic, and nonprofit gatherings.
Congregation Aitz Chaim (the Great Falls Hebrew Association) serves as the primary organized Jewish community for Great Falls and north-central Montana. Affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism and the Montana Association of Jewish Communities, the congregation provides worship services, religious education, cultural programming, and opportunities for connection.
While Montana’s Jewish population is small and geographically dispersed, Congregation Aitz Chaim sustains Jewish practice through weekly Shabbat services, Torah study, High Holy Day observances, and lifecycle events, often with visiting rabbis or lay leadership.
Great Falls does not currently have an established mosque or Islamic center. The nearest mosques are located in Billings (approximately 220 miles east) and Bozeman (approximately 200 miles west). Montana’s Muslim population is relatively small and dispersed, limiting the sustainability of local institutions.
Muslim physicians and families typically maintain home-based prayer practices, travel to regional mosques for major observances, or connect informally with other local Muslims. The presence of Malmstrom Air Force Base brings some Muslim service members to the area, offering potential for gradual community growth.
Great Falls does not currently host established Hindu temples or Buddhist centers. Hindu practitioners typically travel to larger regional or out-of-state communities for temple worship and major celebrations. Buddhist practitioners may find informal meditation groups or yoga-based practices locally, while formal centers are more common in university towns such as Bozeman and Missoula.
Baha’i, Sikh, and other minority faith traditions similarly lack formal institutions in Great Falls. Practitioners generally rely on home-based worship, online resources, and regional travel for community connection and observances.
Great Falls demonstrates broad religious tolerance and interfaith cooperation. Churches regularly collaborate on community service, interfaith Thanksgiving services, disaster response, and civic engagement. These efforts reflect shared commitments to service and community well-being across denominations.
Congregational positions on issues such as LGBTQ inclusion, women’s leadership, and interfaith marriage vary widely, reflecting denominational traditions and local autonomy. Most congregations welcome visitors and encourage exploration before membership.
Physicians relocating to Great Falls are encouraged to explore congregations early, as faith communities often provide spiritual support, social integration, and service opportunities. Church websites typically provide service times, theological orientation, and ministry descriptions to assist in decision-making.
Medical professionals frequently find meaningful roles within congregations, including health ministries, care teams, mission work, and leadership positions where professional expertise benefits the broader community.
For minority faith traditions without established local institutions, physicians should carefully consider whether regional travel, home-based worship, or informal gatherings will adequately support personal and family religious needs.
Great Falls offers extensive Christian diversity and a stable Jewish community, while minority faith traditions require greater adaptability. Understanding these realities helps physicians make informed relocation decisions aligned with spiritual, family, and community priorities.
