n the year 1908, Charles M. Russell, famed cowboy artist of the west, had his summer home built at the foot of Lake McDonald by Dimon Apgar, Sr.  Russell called his cabin “Bull Head Lodge” after the buffalo skull that was his trademark.  In 1916 or 1917, Charlie Russell had his studio built.  This studio, with its bark door and flat rock steps, is still standing.

Charlie Russell was a familiar figure to the people of early Apgar; an outstanding figure with his cowboy hat, boots and the always present sash tied about his waist.

Aside from his artistic talent, Russell had a knack for telling fireside stories.  One such story often told went something like this:

Two guides went out one morning to round up their horses and in crossing a strip of woodland, they met a belligerent moose who made it necessary for them to seek cover with no delay.  One of the guides slid into a convenient hole and the other climbed a tree while the moose just waited around.

After a time, the man in the hole stuck out his head and asked: “Has he gone yet?”  And the man in the tree said: “No!”  After a few minutes, he raised up and again asked:  “Hasn’t he gone yet?”

The man in the tree replied, in not too refined language: “No!  And he never will go if you keep popping out that hole.  Get back in there and keep out of sight!”

“Well,” said the other fellow, “There is a bear in this hole.”

Charlie Russell loved this area and spent a good portion of his later years at the lake – painting and spinning yarns with his friends.

Heading to East Glacier? Be sure to visit The Glacier Village Restaurant, located just before the underpass at the east entrance of Glacier National Park.

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