July 28 – December 2026

This exhibition presents a rare collection of vintage 1871 William Henry Jackson alberttypes that are the first depictions of Yellowstone National Park. Jackson was privileged to be appointed the official photographer for Ferdinand Hayden’s epic governmental exploration of the Yellowstone Plateau during the summer of 1871. These images created the first large assemblage of photographic images taken in Yellowstone and were used to produce multiple alberttype copies to be used in the congressional effort to establish Yellowstone as our first national park.

March – Sept 12, 2026

Between 1930 and 1941, Montana experienced one of the worst droughts in modern history. Coupled with America’s Great Depression, Montanans struggled to scratch a living. Throughout the 1930s, the Farm Securities Administration sent photographers, Arthur Rothstein and Marion Post Wolcott to document the realities, grit, and hope the times. Their images create one of the most vivid and lasting collections of New Deal Montana.

 

Exhibit Sponsor: First Montana Title

March – December 2026

From its earliest days, Billings has been a city shaped by transportation, commerce, and community gatherings—and nowhere was this more evident than in its breweries and saloons. Having a Beer in Billings explores the role of beer in the city’s social and economic life. Through artifacts, photographs, and stories, visitors will discover how beer helped bring people together, fueled early business ventures, and left a lasting mark on Billings’ culture. Raise a glass to history, and step into the city’s spirited past.

 

Exhibit Sponsors:

Bill and Anne Cole
Montana Brewing Company
Angry Hank’s Microbrewery

March – August 15, 2026

In the late 1800s, Apsáalooke leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., to resist land loss and defend their homelands. Their experiences were recorded in ledger drawings—sketches made with graphite and colored pencil that captured trains, circuses, Capitol buildings, through moments of negotiation. Preserved in the Barstow Collection, these rare works provide an unparalleled Apsáalooke perspective on diplomacy at a time of immense pressure from U.S. policies. This exhibition places the ledger drawings at the center, revealing them as both art and testimony to Apsáalooke resilience, leadership, and sovereignty.

 

Exhibit on loan from MSU Billings Library Special Collections

James Kenneth (J.K.) Ralston (1896-1987) was a noted western artist who lived in Billings for many years. In 1946, Ralston and his son built a log cabin to serve as the artist’s studio. In 2005, the cabin was moved to the Western Heritage Center and the cabin’s interior was restored to reflect his working environment. Ralston’s oil paintings and sketchbooks include scenes depicting his early years growing up on ranches and riding the range in Montana. The Western Heritage Center merged with the J.K. Ralston Studio and now houses a significant repository of the famed artist’s letters, memorabilia and artwork. Please ask at the Front Desk for a private tour of the studio cabin.