We're No Dam Experts

Rebecca and Shannon sit down with historian James Grant to talk about Voices of Our Ancestors: The Archival Records of St. Peter's Mission School, a new exhibit at The History Museum in Great Falls. They explore the history of Montana's only off-reservation Catholic Indian mission boarding school, the century-old records now housed in Great Falls, and what those records can reveal about the children and families connected to St. Peter's. https://www.greatfallshistorymuseum.org/events/exhibition-opening-voices-of-our-ancestors-the-records-of-st-peters-mission

Great Walls is back, and downtown Great Falls is about to get a whole lot more colorful! In this episode of We're No Dam Experts, Rebecca and Shannon are talking all things Great Walls, the annual mural festival bringing artists from Great Falls and around the world together to transform downtown buildings into works of art. The 8th annual Great Walls mural festival runs Sunday, August 16 through Sunday, August 23, 2026, with artists painting live throughout the week. This year's lineup includes Naomi Haverland, Great Falls artist Samantha Houston, Matley Hurd, Robert Bowen, Noe Barnett of NB Artistry, and Jeks. Watch for new murals taking shape at locations including 117 Central Avenue, 525 Central Avenue, and 201 2nd Avenue South. Since launching in 2019, Great Walls has helped turn downtown Great Falls into an ever-growing outdoor art gallery. This year's new works will join the 66 murals already found throughout downtown—and one of the best parts of festival week is getting to watch the artists create them in real time. The celebration hits the streets Thursday, August 20, from 5–8 p.m. with the free Great Walls Block Party in the alley behind the Times Square Building. Come downtown for live music, free food and drinks, and plenty of art. You'll also get to watch this year's Great Walls artists create original pieces live on large canvases, which will then be auctioned off that evening. It's a chance to meet the artists, watch them work up close, and maybe even take home an original piece from an artist whose mural you've been watching come to life all week. The Block Party is free and open to all ages. Whether you plan a trip around the festival or stumble across an artist at work while exploring downtown, Great Walls is a pretty great excuse to wander Great Falls, discover some incredible public art, and see a new side of Montana's Basecamp for Art & Adventure. Great Walls 2026: https://www.facebook.com/events/931739339955247 Block Party: https://www.facebook.com/events/1215060028362470

What happens when you start exploring your own hometown like a tourist? This week, Rebecca and Shannon sit down with longtime Great Falls resident and local adventurer Jeanna LaVerdure (@jeanna_and_the_jets) to talk about discovering the hidden gems that make Great Falls, Montana, such a fun place to explore. From favorite parks and the annual Great Walls mural festival to creating incredible duct tape art and even having a coffee drink named in her honor, Jeanna proves you don't have to travel far to find adventure. Whether you're planning a visit to Great Falls or looking for fresh inspiration to explore your own backyard, this episode is packed with art, local stories, and plenty of laughs. Find her on IG: jeanna_and_the_jets Ask for the Special at Hero's Rise in Great Falls: https://heroesrisecoffee.com/