Billings Historic Site Tour


	Billings Historic Site Tour — Scenic Drive

In the Billiings Map & Info tab of Welcome! Visitors Guide website, you will find 25 outstanding attractions around the Magic City.

Some of these attractions are marked with Scenic Drive signs, paid for with tourism tax dollars, and many arts and culture attractions are pointed out with easy-to-read signs provided by Downtown Billings Association.

Following are highlights and information about the attractions. Scenic Drive numbers are in parenthesis.

ALBERTA BAIR THEATER (13) - The Alberta Bair Theater for Performing Arts (ABT), at 3rd and Broadway opened in January of 1987. It is now the largest performing arts theater between Minneapolis and Spokane and is home to the Billings Symphony and Community Concerts. 256-6052.

MONTANA AUDUBON CONSERVATION EDUCATION CENTER - The center strives to help sustain the natural heritage of the Yellowstone River watershed through education and research. 294–5099. 7026 South Billings Boulevard, 1/4 mile south of I-90 on the right. It is across from Riverfront Park (13).

BABCOCK THEATER - The two-story building covers 1/4 of a city block in the center of downtown. Built in 1907 it houses a 750 seat performing arts theater, apartments, and main floor retail spaces. 2812 2nd Ave. N.

BILLINGS MOTORCYCLE CLUB GROUNDS - Oldest motorcycle club in US hosts events Apr.-Oct. Annual Championship Hillclimb last weekend of July. I-90 Exit 447. Turn south. Follow signs. BillingsMotorcycleClub.us, 656-9960.

BILLINGS STUDIO THEATRE - Outstanding productions by Billings’ own community theatre members. Season schedule at BillingsStudioTheatre.com. Tickets at 248-1141. 1500 Rimrock Road.

CHAMBER VISITOR CENTER (1) - open Mon.-Sat. 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m., Sun. 12-4, 252-4016, 815 South 27th Street, near I-90, Exit 450.

BOOTHILL CEMETERY-MONUMENT (5) - Boothill Cemetery is a burial ground for two score residents of Coulson - a rough and ready forerunner of Billings - most of whom "cashed it in with their boots on." Buried here is Muggins Taylor, the scout who carried the news of Custer's Last Stand to the world. The last burial at Boothill was in 1882.

CHIEF PLENTY COUPS STATE PARK - Situated within the Crow Indian Reservation at Pryor, MT., this day-use park preserves the log home, sacred spring, and farmstead of Chief Plenty Coups. Visitor center displays artifacts at the National Historic Landmark, open May 1-Sept. 30. 252-1289.

DEHLER PARK (15) - Home of the Cincinnati Reds baseball farm team, the Billings Mustangs. Games June-Sept. Tickets at BillingsMustangs.com or 252-1241.

FISH WILDLIFE AND PARKS OFFICE - Region 5 2300 Lake Elmo Dr. 247-2940.

HISTORIC MONTANA AVENUE AND DEPOT (2) - In 1977, the Billings City Council created the Billings Historical District - Montana Avenue from N. 25th Street to N. 22nd and north to First Ave. N. The National Register of Historic Places street has a cobblestone brick and horseshoe theme. The arrival of the railroad in 1882 signaled the real beginning of the private townsite of Billings, named for its President, Frederick Billings. This depot was built in 1909.

HUNTLEY PROJECT MUSEUM OF IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE - The 10.4 acres of the old Osborn town site includes 18 homestead buildings from the early 1900s and southern Montana’s largest collection of horse drawn machinery, early sugar beet equipment, corn, grain, and hay mowers, plus a museum and community center. HuntleyProjectMuseum.org, 770 Railroad Hwy. Tu-Sat 10-4, 348-2533.

LEGACY DOLL MUSEUM - Over 4,000 dolls and accessories are exhibited. Guided tours. 3202 6th Ave. N., 252-0041, LegacyDollMuseum.com.

LITTLE BIGHORN (CUSTER) BATTLEFIELD 60 miles southeast of Billings, this national park is the site of the famous 1876 battle. 638-2621.

METRAPARK (4) - This Arena, Pavilion, Expo Center and fairgrounds is a community facility hosting events from ice shows, sporting events and concerts, to large trade shows, and the annual August MontanaFair and rodeo. The Rodeo Hall of Fame survived June 20, 2010, tornado. MetraPark.com 256-2400.

MOSS MANSION (10) - The beautiful historic home museum at 914 Division St. is the turn-of-the-century home of the wealthy Preston B. Moss family. Guided tours 1-3 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Oct.-March, Tues.-Sun. April-Sept., or by appointment, with the last tour starting at 3 p.m. Christmas tours Thanksgiving week through Dec. Tours begin on the hour. A gift shop is open during tour hours. Admission $7A, $5Sr., $5 age 13-up, $3 age 6-12. 914 Division St., 256-5100.

PARMLY BILLINGS LIBRARY - Hours: 657-8259. 510 N. Broadway billings.lib.mt.us.

PICTOGRAPH CAVE STATE PARK (3) - A 1/3-mile looping trail to views of the rock paintings - pictographs - faded but still visible, interpretive signs, and visitor center. Summer 8-8 daily; Apr.-May-Sept. 10-6, winter Wed.-Sun. 10-4. Exit 452 to Coburn Rd, then 5.5 mi. S. 254-7342.

POMPEYS PILLAR NATIONAL MONUMENT - Capt. Wm. Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition inscribed his name and date on the sandstone butte July 25, 1806. Interpretive center open May & Sept. 8-4, June-Aug. 8-8. Grounds open year round to walk-in. I-94 Exit 23. $7Car. Parks passes honored. PompeysPillar.org, 875-2400.

SHRINE AUDITORIUM - Billings Original Performing Arts Center, home of Shrine Circus. 1125 Broadwater. 259-4384.

VENTURE THEATRE - Community theatre entertainment featuring youth to adults at 2317 Montana Avenue in the historic district. 591-9535, VentureTheatre.org.

WESTERN HERITAGE CENTER (11) - Housed in the historic 1901 Parmly Billings Library "castle" in downtown Billings, WHC is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate. It is a regional museum where the stories of the peoples of the Yellowstone River Valley are told through changing museum exhibits, public archives and educational programs. Open Tues. through Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $5A, $3Sr., St., $1Ch, members free. 256-6809, 2822 Montana Avenue.

YELLOWSTONE ART MUSEUM (14) -Transformed 1884 Yellowstone County Jail. In 1964 the building became the present museum. A $6 million expansion in 1998 and a Visible Vault in 2010 capped off the national accredited art museum, which has changing exhibitions, contemporary and historic, traveling and local shows. The museum collection includes the most comprehensive works by cowboy illustrator Will James. 401 N. 27th St. Hours Tu., Wed., Sat. 11-6, Th.-Fri. 11-8, Sun. 11-4, closed Mondays. $5A, $4Sr., $3 age 6-18, under 6 free. Cafe 11-2 Tu.-Fri. ArtMuseum.org, 256-6804.

YELLOWSTONE COUNTY MUSEUM (8) - Closed in January. The historic McCormick log cabin is at 1950 Terminal Circle. Interpretive exhibits depict the life and material culture of Native Americans - Lewis and Clark, exploration and settlement of the West, transportation, ranching, military artifacts, and everyday life of the pioneers. Landmarks Gallery. Five mountain ranges can be viewed from here - clockwise from the southeast, the Bighorns, the Pryors, the Beartooths, the Crazies, and the Snowies. Follow the roundabout through the airport and loop to the museum. 10:30-5:30 Tu.-Sat. YellowstoneCounty Museum.org. Free. 256-6811. Follow Airport Rd. east to Black Otter Trail, named after a Crow chief who was killed by a Sioux war party and given a tree-top burial on a site overlooking the Yellowstone River (6) and Yellowstone Kelly’s grave site. The 1849-1928 frontiersman, army scout, dispatch rider, and hunter requested burial on Kelly Mountain overlooking the Yellowstone River, where his most interesting days were lived. (7)

ZOOMONTANA AND BOTANICAL GARDENS (17) - I-90 Exit 443 to 2100 S. Shiloh Rd. 10-4 daily. $6.25A, $4.25Sr., $3.25Ch. 3-15. ZooMontana.org, 652-8100