Western Heritage Center Billings: what to know before you visit

The Western Heritage Center (WHC) preserves stories and objects from the Yellowstone River Valley and Northern High Plains, especially south-central and southeastern Montana. Founded in 1971, it occupies downtown Billings’ former Parmly Billings Memorial Library, a Richardsonian Romanesque building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The collection includes 40,000 artifacts and archival items. The museum’s “The Story of Us: A History of Billings in 25 Objects” has included objects such as Frederick Billings’ personal briefcase, an original 1879 Montana Territorial map, a sugar bag from the early Great Western Sugar Company, a 1993 menorah from Congregation Beth Aaron, and a 2020 COVID-19 Montana Mask designed by local inventors. Exhibits change, so check the calendar for what’s on view during your visit.

If you’re planning a museum-focused day, the question of which Billings museums to visit can help you put this stop in context with other local collections.

The WHC presents eight onsite exhibits each year, drawing on new research and its collections. Because displays change, the current lineup is best confirmed before you go. Guided and self-guided museum tours are also available.

Public programs and historic walking tours add ways to explore Billings beyond the galleries. The High Noon lecture series is held on the third Thursday of each month. Walking tours cover historic areas of the city and offer a different perspective on Billings’ past.

Most walking tours are scheduled for Friday mornings at 10:00 a.m. from June through September. Each tour lasts about 1 hour and 20 minutes and is limited to 15 people; comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Groups of at least 7 can request custom times.

Regular museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; the WHC is closed on Sundays, Mondays and holidays. General admission is free for members, $8 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and free for children under 6.

Walking-tour tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for members, $8 for students and $5 for children; children under 6 are free, with a limit of 2 free children per paying adult. Tickets are available online or at the walk if space permits. For current hours, admission and tour details, check the official site before you go.

The address is 2822 Montana Avenue, Billings, Montana 59101, at the corner of 29th Street and Montana Avenue.

The WHC is about a 6-minute drive from WoodSpring Suites, a Billings base for visiting the center. The center is in downtown Billings, and the surrounding street grid makes it easy to combine the visit with time in the city centre.

For the museum itself, allow time to look through the exhibits at your own pace or take a guided or self-guided tour. If you book a historic walking tour, set aside about 1 hour and 20 minutes for the tour and wear comfortable walking shoes.

A ground-level door is to the right of the main staircase. Ring the doorbell to use it; for accessibility inquiries, call 406-256-6809. The WHC also provides a Museum Social Story to help individuals with autism prepare for social interaction and public events.