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

F.W. Woolworth Building

Great Falls West Bank Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 19, 2019

1. F.W. Woolworth Building Marker

Inscription. A close look at the Woolworth Building’s upper floors makes evident that it was originally two separate, but closely related edifices. Connecting arches over second-story windows, a decorative metal cornice, and a crowning brick parapet distinguish the eastern portion from its less ornate neighbor. Constructed in 1890 and 1891, the buildings featured connecting second and third floors. Cascade County’s court and offices occupied the second floor in 1891. By 1897, the building was home to the Hotel Grand, which provided rooms for $2.00 per day. Free carriages met all trains, and the hotel boasted a “well-lighted sample room,” dining room, and billiard room on the first floor. Under new management and a slightly different name, the Grand Hotel opened in 1907 with sixty-two rooms. The residential hotel provided “first-class lodging” for businessmen, “local and transient, alike.” By 1916, the Golden Rule Store (a precursor to J.C. Penney) occupied the first floor. The ground floor was remodeled several times by mid-century, and again when the F. W. Woolworth’s Company moved here in 1956.

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Montana National Register Sign Program.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list.

Location. 47° 30.339′ N, 111° 17.918′ W. Marker is in Great Falls, Montana, in Cascade County. It is on Central Avenue near 5th Street South, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 504 Central Avenue, Great Falls MT 59401, 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: Great Falls Central Business Historic District

F.W. Woolworth Building and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 19, 2019

2. F.W. Woolworth Building and Marker

The marker is lower-down in the corner window to the left of the entrance.

(within shouting distance of this marker); S.H. Kress and Company (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lemon Boarding House (about 500 feet away); Methodist Parsonage (about 600 feet away); First United Methodist Church Parsonage (about 600 feet away); "Nibbles" (about 700 feet away); First Methodist Church (about 700 feet away); Bus Depot and Garage (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Great Falls.

F.W. Woolworth Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 19, 2019

3. F.W. Woolworth Building

Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 23, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 581 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 23, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.