The Great Falls of the Missouri is a series of five scenic and unique waterfalls that cascade through a subtle prairie canyon which the water has carved from the prehistoric glacial clays.  The falls encompass a 10-mile stretch of river beginning at Black Eagle Falls and culminating at the Great Falls (to which the largest is commonly referred).

On the 13th of June, 1805, Captain Meriwether Lewis of The Lewis and Clark Expedition set out in search of the falls of the Missouri River.  Within that one day, not only did Lewis discover the Great Falls, but went on to discover four more, to his astonishment and delight.  Giant Springs, one of the world’s largest springs, was discovered 5 days later, while the group portaged the south band of the river.

Much of the Missouri today remains as it was in 1805 when the Lewis and Clark Expedition viewed it.  The Great Falls is now the site of the Ryan Dam.  This dam, built in 1915, raises the water level to form a 152-foot falls.  In 1985, Cochrane Dam, 83 feet high, was built between the Great Falls and Crooked Falls.  Crooked Falls and Rainbow Falls remain almost in their original state.  A dam was constructed at the top of Rainbow in 1910, but the original cascade remains.  Colter Falls is now covered by water behind Rainbow Dam.  Giant Springs is well preserved as a state park although some of the fountains of water are now in the main stream of the river being held back by Rainbow Dam.  A dam was constructed at the top of the Black Eagle Cascade in 1891, but the majority of the falls is still visible.  Further downstream from the Great Falls, Morony Dam, rising 86 feet, was constructed in 1920.  The total output of the 5 dams is now 220,000 KW.