2000 proved to be a year of change for the museum. In the spring, the Cascade County Historical Society moved into the International Harvester Building (which was renamed the High Plains Heritage Center), which been undergoing a renovation since 1999. The Great Falls Genealogy Society also moved into the new building, giving PGSMA extensive new space for expansion.Wilmot, Paula. "Historical Society Ready to Remodel Its New Home." Great Falls Tribune. June 15, 1999; Wilmot, Paula. "Genealogy Library Planting New Roots." Great Falls Tribune. December 30, 2000. But in August 2000, Bonnie Laing-Malcomson resigned as executive director of PGSM to take a job as the executive director of the Oregon College of Art & Craft."Laing-Malcomson Resigns From Job at Paris Gibson Museum." Great Falls Tribune. July 11, 2000. Museum curator Jessica Hunter was named interim executive director. In December 2000, PGSMA won a $138,000 grant to remodel the space vacated by the historical and genealogical societies. The E.L. Wiegand Foundation provided the funds, which expanded the museum's exhibit space to from . Three new galleries were planned to display more of the museum's 500 pieces. These included:
