Royals Grace Great Falls
Great Falls has had many special visitors over the years: presidents, actors, industrial giants, and the famous. Even European royalty have stopped to enjoy the beauty and progress of Great Falls.
Queen Marie of Rumania (Romania)
In 1926, Queen Marie of Rumania was making the rounds across the United States. She had been dubbed “the most beautiful and the popular ruler in all of Europe” by Americans. She and her entourage of 40 included Princess Ileana and Prince Nicolas. They traveled in a private 10-car Great Northern train as they made their way back from the dedication of the Maryhill Museum in Washington State. The queen, hearing that their stop in Great Falls was to be only 20 mins, expressed her desire to see Great Falls, and plans were altered so that their stop became 1 hour and 20 minutes. A parade of 20 cars was arranged by Mayor Harry B. Mitchell to give the royals a tour of the city, giving all Great Falls’ citizens a chance to see the group rather than to try and catch a glimpse at the train station.
[1985.008.0418] Queen Marie of Romania on a tour of the United States,1926. The car belonged to Lee Ford (Pierce Arrow) and was driven by R. E. Keister.
[1985.008.0419] Photo postcard of Queen Marie of Romania in Great Falls on her 1926 United States tour. The Great Northern Railway Station can be seen in the background of the photo.
Upon their arrival on November 8, the procession was serenaded by the Great Falls Boys’ band while 250 Camp Fire Girls presented her majesty with a bouquet of chrysanthemums. Queen Marie gave the girls a smile and a simple greeting, “How do you do, everybody.” She was dressed in a dark plum colored traveling gown and wore a close-fitting brown hat over her hair. On her feet were a pair of bright red boots, with tall heels and all the trimmings of an American Cowboy’s boots. Before loading into the cars for the tour, the Chamber of Commerce, represented by Mayor Mitchell, presented Her Majesty with a Montana moss agate.
Work in the city stopped for an hour that day as people flooded the station and the sidewalks of Central Avenue to get a view of the Queen. It was conceded to be the largest assemblage ever gathered in Great Falls to welcome a distinguished guest at the time. The police and fire departments kept order as the parade of cars toured through the city to the Anaconda Company Smelter and back. At their request, Princess Ileana and Prince Nicholas each drove a car in the procession.
It was a memorable trip for all who were present and Great Falls mourned the queen’s passing in 1938.
Prince Olav and Princess Martha of Norway
Clipping from Great Falls Tribune, June 3, 1939
Though their goal was Glacier Park, Great Falls enticed the Norwegian royalty to stop for an hour and a tour. The Crown Prince and Princess arrived at the Great Northern Depot at 6:55 a.m. on June 3, 1939 and were greeted by Senator and Mrs. Dahl along with Mayor Julius Wuerthner. The Prince and Princess shook hands and beamed smiles at the friendly crowd that gathered. Prince Olav wore a gray business suit, while Princess Martha was attired in a gray wool ensemble, a fox fur piece, caracul trimmed turban, gray alligator purse with matching shoes, and a pearl necklace with matching earrings.
Music by the Great Falls High School Band, the American Legion Drum Corps, the Shrine Band, and the Scandinavian Male Chorus filled the air as the royal couple received gifts and flowers. They were presented with a large copper tray, a copper key to the city, an original Russell painting, a fez of Algeria Temple of the Shrine, and a scroll. Prince Olav expressed his appreciation with a brief address. He saw in the reception not a tribute to himself and the Princess, but a tribute to the role Norwegians have played to build the United States. The city was full of eager listeners as delegates of the Rocky Mountain District Convention of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. Visiting Shriners were rapt with attention as well. They proceeded on a 30 minute car tour of the city and its parks, including Black Eagle and Rainbow Dams, Giant Springs, and other points of interest.
Great Falls Tribune Clipping, June 4, 1939
[1990.078.0051] Prince Olav of Norway at a microphone during his visit to Great Falls, June 1939. DeMier Studio Photograph.
Following their departure, a Scandinavian breakfast was held at the Hotel Rainbow in honor of the visit. At the breakfast, Judge C. F. Holt said,
“The Scandinavian people are for good government at all times, they always have been and always will be great lovers of democracy, honesty, integrity, and industry. They have had a great part in the establishment of this nation. We are not here to worship or deify the old country but to rededicate the ideals of the countries which mean so much to the peace of the world at this time.”
Great Falls Tribune Clipping, April 6, 1942
This speech seemed prophetic, as the royal couple would next visit in 1942.
The royal pair were on a lecture tour from Tacoma to Chicago, speaking as a United Nations ally, telling of the part his country, then a government in exile, was taking in the War. A lunch at the Hotel Rainbow was arranged and a formal talk was given by Prince Olav. The Prince opened his speech, expressing his pleasure to visit Great Falls again, though he wished under better circumstances. He spoke informally of the conditions prevailing in Norway since Germany assumed control and assured listeners that the spirit of his countrymen remained undampened by Nazi threats and terrorism: “The people are taking a stand against Hitler’s new order regardless of consequences because, like the Americans, they are convinced that the traditions of freedom and justice are morally right.”