Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center stands on a bluff above the Missouri River on Giant Springs Road in Great Falls, close to where the Corps of Discovery spent nearly a month in the summer of 1805 dragging its boats and supplies around the five Great Falls of the Missouri. Operated by the USDA Forest Service since 1998, it covers the expedition as a whole, with particular weight on the Great Falls portage.

Closed for renovation until 1 April 2027. The center closed on 1 October 2026 for upgrades to its downstairs exhibits, including an enlarged children's area, and is due to reopen on 1 April 2027. The closure follows the departure of its three full-time Forest Service staff in 2026. The Lewis & Clark Foundation, the center's nonprofit partner, is taking over ticketing, facility rentals and marketing, and the Forest Service has said it will assign staff later. Local reports say the gift shop and resource center remain open during the work, but call 406-727-8733 before making a special trip.

When it reopens, the self-guided exhibit hall's centrepiece has been a two-storey diorama of the portage around the five falls, and a hands-on display lets you test your strength pulling a boat against the Missouri's current. Expect the galleries to look different after the renovation, as the update covers the main exhibits.

The setting is part of the visit. Paths lead from the center down to the River's Edge Trail and along the river toward Giant Springs, a short walk away, and Black Eagle and Rainbow falls lie a few miles in either direction. Lewis first saw the Great Falls on 13 June 1805, and William Clark found Giant Springs five days later while surveying the portage route.

This winter, the best way to cover the same history is outdoors: Giant Springs State Park next door stays open year-round, and the falls overlooks along the river show the obstacles the expedition faced. The C.M. Russell Museum in town is open Thursday to Monday in winter. Before the closure the center kept seasonal hours and charged admission; check current hours and prices before a spring 2027 visit.