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Montana (MT)
Billings
Things to Do in Billings
Western Heritage Center

Western Heritage Center, Billings: Hours, Address, Western Heritage Center Reviews: 4/5

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Western Heritage Center

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Western Heritage Center
4
79
#9 of 59 things to do in Billings
History Museums
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10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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About
Connect with your family as you share quality time exploring the many interactive exhibits at the Western Heritage Center - all year long! The many exhibits at the museum include both permanent and regularly changing galleries, and will allow for hours of educational fun for all ages. The Western Heritage Center is a regional museum whose collections, exhibits and programs tell the stories of life in the Yellowstone River Valley. Located in historic downtown Billings, the building that houses the Western Heritage Center is the former Parmly Billings Memorial Library, a Richardsonian Romanesque structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Accredited by the American Association of Museums and an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the Western Heritage Center provides both long term and changing exhibits with interactive components, as well as educational programs for visitors of all ages. The museum cares for over 16,000 artifacts and an extensive collection that illustrates and documents the history of the Yellowstone River Valley.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
79 reviews
Excellent
32
Very good
31
Average
13
Poor
3
Terrible
0
Kristie B
6 contributions
Great History lessons
Jul 2021
The number one draw for me was the building itself. It is the perfect place to learn about the history of Billings. I do feel that they should utilize more of the space. It has beautiful circular stair case and many rooms that are unfortunately, closed off to the public . I was disappointed that they did not really have anything for children. Maybe a area where they can pretend to build a rail road or learn about Billings history through activities. I found it odd that the gift area was full of kids items but, their were no exhibits centered around kids.
Written August 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
KJB
1 contribution
Western Heritage Center
Dec 2020 • Friends
I really enjoyed the different displays
My favorite was the one about the influencial women Montana 's past.
Written December 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Ashley H
1 contribution
Cute little museum!
Sep 2020 • Solo
Cute little museum! They were running a bee exhibit and a really cool exhibit called Sinners and Saints which showcased some very fascinating women. Parking was easy and the staff was helpful and informative.
Written September 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Tim Lehman
Billings, MT1 contribution
Stimulating
Feb 2020
Great treasure here in the Treasure State. Fascinating exhibits of a diverse representation of the region, native and newcomers. Friendly staff, always helpful.
Written September 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Mona S
1 contribution
Delightful
Aug 2020
The Western Heritage Center building itself is an experience! An old sandstone building quarried out of stones from the rimrocks that surround the valley. The staff are very helpful and eager to tell you all about the area. It's fun to take the walking tours and learn about the early days and the buildings. The paintings are exceptional and represent the best of the area artists and history. Their archives are just amazing and they can access all kinds of information!
Written September 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
MontanaTeach
1 contribution
Western Heritage, More Than Buffalo Bill
Dec 2019
The staff is friendly and helpful. Their exhibits focus on a wide range of history, not just Buffalo Bill. Thoughtful, diverse, and interesting exhibits. Highly recommended!
Written September 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Larry S
Atlantic Beach, FL25 contributions
Umm - nothing earth shattering.
Jul 2020
Very Meh ! Super average. Totally did not reflect what I thought the title described .
More Suffrage, less Western heritage. I don't know. Not terrible, not great. Kind of "fine".
Written July 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Robby G C
Toronto, Canada78,235 contributions
Gorgeous Paintings!
Jun 2019
We didn't know what we would see. Still we decided to go. It wasn't that expensive.

The highlight was paintings. Ben Steele was an artist and he taught a lot of students. There were many painting from war at the Japanese concentration camp.

His paintings were the best. He had a painting for anything he had seen in the concentration camp.

There were students that Ben Steele helped them to paint.

We even met her wife. Ben had died already.

The building was a library and they changed that and improved the Center.
Written October 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Carol J
Tucson, AZ1,158 contributions
Interesting Museum
Aug 2019
The Western Heritage Center is an interesting place to visit. There is a display on staying safe from the bears at Yellowstone. It includes a history of the parks approach to bear safety and the early days of feeding the bears.

There is an amazing display of the works of Ben Steele and the students who learned from him. There is a separate room of his work showing what he and other soldiers endured during the Bataan Death March and over 3 years as a prisoner of war. I don’t know how long this collection will be on display, but it’s definitely worth seeing.
Written August 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Mary D
Littleton, CO571 contributions
More interesting than we expected
May 2019 • Couples
The building is beautiful with its white stone edifice and its contrasting red roof. On display were colorful paintings of the Old West done by James Ralston. There was also an exhibit of work from Ben Steele who lived in Billings and was one of the few survivors of the Bataan Death March. The drawings and paintings of that horrible time were heart wrenching yet they are a part of history that should not be forgotten. The first floor housed Native American (Crow) artifacts, drawings, clothes, a video of their lively dances and more. There is also a life mask of the warrior Plenty Coups which was very interesting. The entrance fee was minimal at $3 per person. The woman who greets you when you enter is very friendly and helpful. It's worth a stop when in Billings.
Written May 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Western Heritage Center
Western Heritage Center is open:
  • Tue - Sat 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Western Heritage Center tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 1 Western Heritage Center tours on Tripadvisor
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