River's Edge History Tour, Great Falls, Montana brochure

From introduction: "Archaeological sites such as buffalo jumps and ancient camps confirm the presence of Native Americans in the Great Falls area for several millennia before Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery arrived in 1805. The tribes were attracted by bison herds and other game animals known to use a Missouri River ford at this location. When he reached the falls, Meriwether Lewis was greatly impressed with their grandeur and beauty, features no doubt appreciated by the tribes as well. The Falls of the Missouri possessed other qualities, however, that attracted those who would build a city and develop corporate enterprise... Water power and mineral processing became the foundation of Great Falls’ economy in this first decade and defined the course of its development for much of the next century. The first water projects at Great Falls supplied mechanical power for industry, but technological developments in the production and distribution of electricity rapidly increased the demand for electric power and copper. By 1915, Butte’s once diverse copper mining interests had been consolidated into the Anaconda Copper Mining Company. To meet the ever- increasing demand for electricity to power its Montana operations, Anaconda looked for suitable dam sites on the Missouri River. None were more attractive than those at Great Falls. The Montana Power Company (MPC) was created from several small firms and proceeded to build dams and power plants near Great Falls and other sites in the state. While the MPC was not an Anaconda subsidiary, John Ryan was president of both and they were closely associated for many years. MPC supplied power for Anaconda’s mining and related operations, and expanded production to meet the demands of further development in the state, including municipal growth, railway electrification and large irrigation projects. Together, these companies controlled vast resources and wielded overwhelming political power in the state. Anaconda’s refinery dominated the Great Falls landscape until operations ceased in 1980, under the management of new owner, Atlantic Richfield. The plant had evolved from a copper smelter into a refinery, zinc plant and wire mill, but the economics of the industry had changed. The massive 506-foot smokestack on Smelter Hill was demolished in 1982, ending an era in Great Falls history. The Montana Power Company had a large, diverse customer and resource base in water power, oil and gas, mining and coal generation. Between 1998 and 2000, the company sold its successful power generation and transmission facilities, only to become a failed telecommunications firm. It was sold at auction in 2002. The new owner of area hydro generation, PPL Montana, has put thousands of riverfront acres into trail and conservation easements and provided new public access to the island at Black Eagle and along the north shore between Rainbow Reservoir and Morony Dam. Much of River’s Edge Trail is built on former roads and railroad lines. We encourage you to explore these historic transportation routes at your own pace. Enjoy your tour." Project funding was provided in part by a Preserve America grant to the City of Great Falls administered by the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

River's Edge History Tour, Great Falls, Montana brochure

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