10/24/2026
On October 24, 1926, exactly 100 years ago today, Charles M. Russell died in his home at 62 years old. Thousands lined the streets of Great Falls to witness his procession. Charlie had not wanted to be carried in a "skunk wagon," so a horse-drawn hearse was prepared. His friend Ed Vance drove the hearse, and Dexter—a riderless horse—followed.
Through his art, humor, respect for Indigenous peoples, love of the open range, and charismatic personality, Charlie captured the spirit of the American West in a way that others hadn't.
In 1937, Nancy Cooper Russell wrote to a would-be biographer, "It makes me very happy indeed, to know that you who do not know Charlie, should feel the depth of his friendship for people. Any one who knew him at all loved him and I don't know any one who has as many friends as he had."
That sentiment carries on today. We wish we could have known Charlie, and we feel lucky to tell his story. Rest easy, old friend.
🎬 In this 1926 silent footage, Charlie demonstrates Native American sign language to his wife, Nancy, in Great Falls. The reel also contains footage of Russell's horse-drawn funeral procession through the streets of Great Falls. [MTHS , collection MOV 0119)
