Welcome!

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 Western Heritage Center building 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.

Our education programs welcome thousands of school children to the museum annually and we offer resource materials to area school teachers.  We offer free monthly presentations on a variety of historical topics, send our traveling exhibits to many venues, sponsor speakers, and host events that allow the community to enjoy our building. 
 

The museum cares for over 17,000 artifacts and an extensive collection that illustrates and documents the history of the Yellowstone River Valley.  We are also home to the permanent collection of western artist, J. K. Ralston. His original studio cabin sits on museum grounds. 

The Western Heritage Center also records and collects oral histories. The American Indian Tribal Histories Project has gathered, preserved, and shared over 180 oral histories from members of the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian tribes. The unique perspectives offered by tribal members have added to the understanding of cultural traditions and historic events in the region.  Another project, ECHOES, has gathered stories from communities such as Billings, Wibaux, Colstrip, Laurel and Hardin. Both of these projects are showcased in exhibits at the museum through mid 2010.

Explore the Western Heritage Center - whether you are a regular or first time museum visitor, a teacher or student or a researcher, you’re welcome at the Western Heritage Center. 

 We’re glad you’re here!