Western Heritage Center, Historical museum in downtown Billings, Montana, US
The Western Heritage Center sits in a Romanesque sandstone building with twin towers in downtown Billings. Inside are roughly 40,000 objects and photographs showing the history of the Yellowstone River Valley region.
The building was constructed in 1901 as a library for the city and later converted to house this museum. It entered the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, marking its importance as a regional landmark.
The center focuses on stories from Crow and Northern Cheyenne communities that shaped life in this region. Visitors encounter objects and records that bring these perspectives into everyday contexts and lived experiences.
The museum is open from early March to late December, Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on Sundays and Mondays. It stands in downtown Billings, and the exhibits occupy the former reading rooms of the 1901 library building.
In 2002 the Western Heritage Center became the first Smithsonian Institution affiliate in the Northern Plains. It is one of six Montana museums accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, and in 2001 it was only the second organization to receive the Montana Governor's Humanities Award.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,458 contributors worldwide.
