GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) – Construction has begun on a $3 million art building that will house the most prized pieces of the Bair Family Museum’s collection.
The building at the historic family home near Martinsdale will allow the museum to display works that have been locked away for years.
The Great Falls Tribune reports the building will have moisture and lighting controls, a high-tech security system and fireproof walls.
The artwork includes works by Charlie Russell, European masters and Indian beadwork given to the family by Chief Plenty Coups.
The collection had been at the center of a legal battle between Alberta Bair’s friends and neighbors and the board of trustees tasked with managing the family fortune.
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Information from: The Great Falls Tribune, http://www.greatfallstribune.com
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AP-WS-09-28-10 0832EDT
