Bull Head Lodge and Studio, Historical lodge and art studio in Apgar, Montana.
Bull Head Lodge comprises two log structures at the southern end of Lake McDonald, built with traditional mountain architecture using natural materials. The buildings display early 20th-century craftsmanship techniques and remain standing as examples of this construction style.
Charles M. Russell acquired the land from Dimon Apgar and built the structures between 1905 and 1906, before Glacier National Park was established. This early construction date makes the site an important record of artistic settlement in the region prior to park protection.
The property served as a meeting place for artists drawn to the mountain surroundings for creative work. You can still sense the spaces where painters and sculptors spent their time developing their pieces.
The lodge sits near Going-to-the-Sun Road in Apgar, within easy walking distance of Lake McDonald's shoreline. The location is accessible and works well as a stop while exploring the surrounding landscape.
Russell created nature-based artworks in the studio using materials gathered from the surrounding area, such as wood pieces and moss. This hands-on approach of integrating natural elements directly into finished pieces was remarkable for that era.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
