Western Heritage Center
Western Heritage Center
4
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
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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4.0
82 reviews
Excellent
33
Very good
32
Average
14
Poor
3
Terrible
0
Iriani
Kalispell, MT146 contributions
May 2015 • Friends
Since literature on Billings say that this museum is associated wiyh the Smithsonian, I expected more. The historic library building is beautiful, but the exhibits are small and not well desciribed. Some native american artifacts are nicely shown, but poorly described, an exhibit of art photos of ghost town building, a mish mash area of things you would see daily if you lived near a small town in Montana like post office artifacts and a Western style easy chair and a diner table. This is a museum exhibit for New York about Montana, not for people in Montana. Big building, small information. It would do more for me if it still house a library.
Written 30 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike Y
Billings, MT51 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
The Western Heritage Center is a nice stopping spot as you cruise through downtown Billings. It doesn't take too long to go through but is quite educational. I visited while they had the motorcycle exhibit which was cool with antique bikes and pictures.
It has great local history about the Yellowstone Valley and it's farming, rivers and cultur.
My favorite part would have to be the yellow hand painted horse on display outside of the building.
It has great local history about the Yellowstone Valley and it's farming, rivers and cultur.
My favorite part would have to be the yellow hand painted horse on display outside of the building.
Written 29 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
borntotravel863
Charlotte, NC65 contributions
May 2016 • Friends
This building was formerly used as a library. Now, as a heritage museum, depicts life centuries ago in Billings. Lots of fascinating information and details for the visitor. A must attraction while in Billings.
Written 16 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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OnTheRoad, USA153 contributions
Oct 2013 • Family
We spent about 2 hours in the museum, with some of our kids (1-17). There were lots of hands-on things for them to do, including dress up, old fashioned post office, and games. Displays for the olders to read/check out while the kids are playing, and fabulous, informative staff. Great deal.
Written 9 November 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Acechamp
Virginia City, Montana29 contributions
Sept 2013 • Friends
Iris Dodge has captured and documented 52 notable Montana Cowboys in her Plaids, Stripes and Denims; Portraits and Poetry show now on display until November 2. Each portrait is as unique as the character, and their lives captured with eloquence in her poetry. Hung in two different galleries at the Center, the collection adds to the authentic Montana spirit which prevails within the walls. I especially loved the hats of each cowboy and the barn wood frames highlighting the portraits. Iris truly has a gift with color, brush and pen.
Written 19 September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lynn M
Huntley, Montana, United States27 contributions
Aug 2013 • Family
If you want a glimpse of the area and its history this is the place to go. Great staff who will bend over backwards to help you with answers to questions about their facility or recommend and direct you to other area attractions. Nothing like local people to let you know where all the little known treasures are. Something for every age group from the little ones to the seniors. They encourage your exploration with most of the exhibits being "hands-on" much to the delight of my grandkids and photography is welcomed. The building itself is wonderful - an old early 1900's sandstone "castle" type construction with the interior restored with all its wonderful architectural detail. The building is even suppose to be the "most haunted in Montana". Great time.
Written 28 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Penny R
Montana2 contributions
Apr 2012 • Friends
The Western Heritage Center is like a Disneyland for lovers of the wild west! I was surprised and amazed by how many exhibits are on display in this one building, and by how many featured interactive media and hands-on participation. Plan a day to visit this wonderful center -- the memories you will create will last a life time! This is a center for people of all ages -- adults and kids. Get in there and push buttons, watch movies, listen to stories, draw your own pictures, listen to songs on a jukebox...just go on in and have some fun!
Written 16 October 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PurpleTea
Seattle26 contributions
Aug 2010
It's in an old historic building that looks like a castle. There are a bunch of different exhibits and plenty of hands-on stuff for the kids. I don't remember the admission off hand, but it was reasonable.
Written 28 July 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KJB
1 contribution
Dec 2020 • Friends
I really enjoyed the different displays
My favorite was the one about the influencial women Montana 's past.
My favorite was the one about the influencial women Montana 's past.
Written 19 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Larry S
Atlantic Beach, FL27 contributions
July 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".
More Suffrage, less Western heritage. I don't know. Not terrible, not great. Kind of "fine".
Written 22 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
$5 for adults, $3 for seniors/students, $1 for kids. Memberships are also available ($100 - family; $75 - couple; $40 - individual; $35 senior/student).
Written 16 August 2016
Depends on size of family adults are5.00 students with I.d. and seniors are 3.00 and children under 12 are a dollar
Written 14 August 2016
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