Black Eagle, Montana

Black Eagle is a suburb on the northern side of Great Falls. The town is named for Black Eagle Falls on the Missouri River. Lewis and Clark gave the falls the name because of the sheer number of black eagles they saw in the area. Early settlers in the area were workers in the smelters and refineries of Great Falls. Many of those settlers came from the Balkans and old-timers in Black Eagle still retain some of those old habits, customs and dialects.

Across the Missouri River from Black Eagle is the Black Eagle Falls Overlook, a pull-off on US Highway 87. The best views of the dam and waterfall, though, are to be had along the River's Edge Trail. Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge is about 12 miles north of Black Eagle.