Great Falls in Cascade County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

William & Isabel Shea House

Great Falls West Bank Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 19, 2019

1. William & Isabel Shea House Marker

Inscription. William and Isabel Shea built this cozy one-story brick home in 1929. With its distinctive low profile, clipped-gable shingle roof, stucco siding, exposed rafter tails, and multi-pane windows, the inviting residence is a classic Craftsman style bungalow. Its horizontal orientation, sheltering roofline, subtle decorative elements, and use of varied natural materials, like wooden shingles, speak to the style’s desire to "sing into the landscape." The Sheas lived here over thirty years, until their deaths in 1959 and 1962. Great Falls' longtime sanitarian, William was among Montana’s first health officials to establish a mosquito control program. However, he is best remembered as the driving force behind the Montana Cowboys Association. The organization’s first president, Shea donated a portion of his property to construct the Montana Cowboys Association Bar and Museum to the north. He also organized dances to raise money for the construction. In 1941, the National Youth Association finished building the museum, turning Shea’s vision of a place to celebrate the romance of the Old West into a reality.

Erected by The Montana

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National Register Sign Program.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list.

Location. 47° 30.635′ N, 111° 18.978′ W. Marker is in Great Falls, Montana, in Cascade County. It is on 3rd Street Northwest near 3rd Avenue Northwest, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 305 3rd Street Northwest, Great Falls MT 59404, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in andspecifically entral Montana in Russell Country. It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker:

William & Isabel Shea House and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 19, 2019

2. William & Isabel Shea House and Marker

Cowboys Bar and Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Great Falls West Bank Historic District (within shouting distance of this marker); Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Depot (approx. 0.4 miles away); Boyd House (approx. 0.6 miles away); Northside Residential Historic District (approx. 0.6 miles away); Great Falls Civic Center (approx. 0.6 miles away); T.E. Collins Mansion (approx. 0.6 miles away); New Park Hotel (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Great Falls.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 237 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 19, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.