Montana's largest town, Billings, lies in the south, and is a good base for visits to the Little Bighorn battle field and the Crow Indian Reservation, where the five-day Crow Fair is held every year in August.
Here, in the Crow Reservation, the United States Army suffered its greatest defeat at the hands of the Sioux and Cheyennes. On June 25th 1876 a detachment of the 7th United States Cavalry commanded by George Armstrong Custer attacked a larger Indian force led by Crazy Horse and was annihilated. On the battlefield are a museum, a military cemetery and a monument commemorating Custer's last stand, erected on the spot where he fell.
The Chief Black Otter Trail winds along the edge of Rimrocks to the north of Billings. Chief Black Otter was a Crow Indian chief who was buried here after his death at the hands of a Sioux war party.
The Happy Pappy's Holdup in Huntley near Billings features horseback, wagons and mule teams, cowboy meals, western music, and entertainment as well as cowboy concerts on the range.
Address: Western Romance Company, 3512 Boothill Road, Huntley, MT 59037, United States
Phone: 1 (406) 348-2048, Fax: 1 (406) 446-3170
Moss Mansion is a red sandstone manor house in Billings. It was designed by New York architect, Henry Janeway Hardenbergh who designed the Waldorf Astoria, Plaza Hotel, Williard Hotel, and Copely Hotels. The mansion was built in 1903 and features original draperies, fixtures, furniture, Persian carpets and artifacts.
Address: Moss Mansion, 914 Division Street, Billings, MT 59101-1921, United States
Phone: 1 (406) 256-5100, Fax: 1 (406) 252-0091
Hours:
January 4 to May 31: 1pm-4pm
June 1 to September 6: 9am-4pm; Sun:1pm-3pm
September 22 to November 6: 1pm-4pm
November 15 to January 2: 1pm-4pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Disability Access: Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
The Peter Yegen Jr Yellowstone County Museum in Billings presents the history of the area through to the 1950's. Exhibits include items of the Northern Plains Indian Tribes, western expansion, mining, cattle and sheep herding, transportation, military (1870-1950's), a variety of medical fields, music, textiles, household goods and personal goods.
Address: Peter Yegen Jr Yellowstone County Museum, 1950 Terminal Circle, Billings, MT 59105-1988, United States
Phone: 1 (406) 256-6811, Fax: 1 (406) 254-6031
Hours:
10:30am-5pm; Sat:10:30am-3pm; Closed: Sun
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
J K Ralston painted scenes that captured the Old West. His log-cabin studio has been restored and moved to the campus of Rocky Mountain College in Billings.
The Western Heritage Center in Billings is housed in the 1901 Parmly Billings Library. The center features a collection of more than 16,000 artifacts, including more than 1,000 photographs that represent the history and culture of the Yellowstone River region.
Address: Western Heritage Center, 2822 Montana Avenue, Billings, MT 59101-2305, United States
Phone: 1 (406) 256-6809, Fax: 1 (406) 256-6850
Hours:
10am-5pm; Closed: Sun, Mon
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
The Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings was formerly the Yellowstone Art Center. It began in the renovated former Yellowstone County Jail. The collection represents contemporary art of the region. Highlights include contemporary Western art as well as historic works by cowboy illustrator, Will James.
Address: Yellowstone Art Museum, 401 North 27th Street, Billings, MT 59101-1241, United States
Phone: 1 (406) 256-6804, Fax: 1 (406) 256-6817
ZooMontana in Billings specializes in northern latitude species such as the river otter, Sika deer, Siberian tigers, gray wolves, bighorn sheep and bald eagles.
Address: ZooMontana, 2100 South Shiloh Road, Billings, MT 59106-3908, United States
Phone: 1 (406) 652-8100, Fax: 1 (406) 652-9281
Hours:
May 1 to September 24: 10am-5pm
September 25 to April 30: 10am-4pm
Tips: Admissions close one hour before zoo closes.
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