How a series of waterfalls and a failed demolition defined an American city

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Named for a series of Missouri River waterfalls, Great Falls, Montana, was built on the promise of cheap hydroelectric power. From its origins as an industrial boomtown to its later struggles with the decline of heartland manufacturing, the city remains a unique case study in Western resilience and industrial history.

Founded in 1883 by entrepreneur Paris Gibson, Great Falls was designed to be an industrial powerhouse. Gibson, inspired by the potential of the Missouri River's waterfalls, partnered with railroad magnate James J. Hill to transform the frontier site into a hub for smelting and grain milling. By 1890, the completion of the Black Eagle Dam—the first hydroelectric project on the Missouri—provided the cheap energy necessary to attract heavy industry, earning the city its moniker, The Electric City.

The city's industrial identity was physically embodied by the Big Stack, a massive 506-foot chimney built in 1908 to disperse fumes from the local copper smelter. For over 70 years, it served as a landmark for the community. Its eventual demise in 1982 became local legend: a botched demolition attempt left a portion of the structure standing, which residents interpreted as a final act of defiance before the stack was finally brought down later that same day.

Beyond its industrial roots, the city's geography was shaped by the ancient Laurentide Ice Sheet. Between 15,000 BCE and 11,000 BCE, glacial activity created Glacial Lake Great Falls, which eventually emptied in a catastrophic flood that carved the landscape. Today, the city serves as a regional economic center, home to Malmstrom Air Force Base and a significant number of museums, including the C. M. Russell Museum. Despite the economic shifts that have affected much of the Great Plains, Great Falls maintains its status as a vital cultural and commercial anchor in central Montana.

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