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

Charlie and Nancy Russell Honeymoon Cottage

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2022

1. Charlie and Nancy Russell Honeymoon Cottage Marker

Inscription. The son of a wealthy St. Louis family, Charles M. “Charlie” Russell longed for western adventure. In 1880, at fifteen, he convinced his parents to let him visit Montana. He never looked back. For over ten years, he worked as a night herder during the summer and rode the grub line in the winter, all the while painting and sculpting western scenes. Russell met Ben Roberts in 1882. The two became friends, and after Roberts married Lela Gorham and moved to Lela’s hometown of Cascade, the cowboy artist often visited him in the off season. Roberts supported Russell’s artistic ambitions, and in 1890 he published Russell’s first book of illustrations. While visiting Cascade in October 1895, Russell met sixteen-year-old Nancy Cooper, who lived with, and worked for, the Roberts. Nancy and Charlie married a year later in the Roberts’ parlor. After the ceremony they moved into the small bunkhouse and studio behind the Roberts’ house where Russell always stayed when he visited the family. Russell spent $75 adding a lean-to kitchen and otherwise fixing up the place. “Our wedding trip,” Charlie remembered, “was a hundred yards to that

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one-room shack—and we walked.” Charlie’s marriage to Nancy marked a turning point in his career, and Nancy’s business acumen is often credited for his professional success. Her management started early, and within a year of their marriage the Russells had moved to Great Falls, where Nancy correctly felt there would be a larger market for Charlie’s work.

Erected by Montana Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list.

Location. 47° 16.177′ N, 111° 41.948′ W. Marker is in Cascade, Montana, in Cascade County. It is on Russell Drive South near Central Avenue East, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 20 Russell Drive South, Cascade MT 59421, 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.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2022

2. Charlie and Nancy Russell Honeymoon Cottage Marker

Central Plaque:
The picture at right, "Indians Discovering Lewis & Clark" by Charles M. Russell was completed in 1898 here in Russell's first home - The Honeymoon Cottage - as described by the sign on the left. -- Gene Dwyer

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 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Who was looking for who? (here, next to this marker); Point of Reference (approx. 7.7 miles away); Sentinel of the Rockies (approx. 7.7 miles away); Transition Terrain (approx. 7.7 miles away); From Too Much to Not Enough (approx. 7.7 miles away); From Indian Trail to Highways (approx. 7.7 miles away); July 17, 1805 & July 17, 1806 (approx. 9.1 miles away); The Missouri River Canyon and Old US Highway 91 (approx. 9½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cascade.

Charlie and Nancy Russell Honeymoon Cottage and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2022

3. Charlie and Nancy Russell Honeymoon Cottage and Marker

Charlie and Nancy Russell Honeymoon Cottage image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2022

4. Charlie and Nancy Russell Honeymoon Cottage

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2022

5. Charlie and Nancy Russell Honeymoon Cottage

Charlie and Nancy Russell image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Unknown/Gilcrease Museum

6. Charlie and Nancy Russell

Credits. This page was last revised on April 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 335 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 25, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.