Exhibit Archives

Winold Reiss (1886-1953) immigrated to the United States from Germany in order to fulfill his life-long dream of painting Native American Indians. This led him to Montana in 1919 where he found the Blackfeet Indians. It was said that the Blackfeet bestowed the name Beaver Child on Reiss and trusted him to record their greatness, not for himself, but for them. Reiss left an incredible body of work behind him that captured the true spirit of the Blackfeet. Reiss was also commissioned by the Great Northern Railroad to promote its route into Glacier Park during its advertising heyday from 1920s to the 1950s. The Great Northern Railway reproduced Reiss’ work on calendars, postcards, menus, playing cards and more. His work illustrated the Railroad’s “See America First” campaign that promoted travel to the “Crown of the Continent.” This major exhibition of Reiss’s work furthers the Museum’s mission of preserving the important art history left by the Great Northern Railway.

Sponsored by US Forest Service, National endowment for the Arts, John & Patricia Case, Van Kirke & Helen Nelson, Glacier Fund, Montana Community Foundation, Melody & Stuart Johnson, and Bob Drummond, Coeur d’Alene Art Auction 

Winold Reiss exhibit banners, posters, catalogs, and cards are available for purchase in the Museum's Off the Wall Gift Gallery. Your purchase supports the Museum’s exhibit and education programs.