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The C.M. Russell Museum expected about $200,000 from its first ever solo auction, but on Tuesday announced a pleasant surprise.

At a celebration event, museum staff unveiled the total amount raised during Western Art Week in March, and it came to nearly triple the estimate, with just over $600,000 raised.

Darrell Beauchamp, the executive director of the museum, said the whole event was a huge success and the staff is already planning bigger and better for next year.

This was the first year that the C.M. Russell Museum and the Great Falls Ad Club did not team up for the annual C.M. Russell Art Auction.

The two organizations parted ways several months ago and decided to each hold their own auctions.