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The Western Heritage Center is a regional museum that interprets and reflects the life and culture of the Yellowstone River Valley. Located in downtown Billings’ historic Parmly Billings Library, the museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a Smithsonian Affiliate.

Exhibits

The current Western Heritage Center exhibits include: Photographing Montana 1894-1928: The World of Evelyn Cameron, This Land is Your Land Western Landscapes, Echoes of Eastern Montana: Stories from an Open Country, and Coming Home: The Northern Cheyenne Odyssey.

Photographing Montana 1894-1928: The World of Evelyn Cameron - The Montana Historical Society’s nationally acclaimed traveling exhibit includes 47 striking photographs reproduced from Cameron’s glass-plate and nitrate negatives that record the early days on the western frontier and the coming of the homesteaders that changed the face of the land forever. Watch the outstanding PBS film, Evelyn Cameron, A Worthy Life, in a re-created cabin.

This Land is Your Land Western Landscapes - Enjoy the beauty of the west, featuring the artistry of Clyde Aspevig, Phillip Goodwin, Joseph Henry Sharp, Ben Steele, Hans Kleiber, Oscar Borg, and Charles Partridge Adam. This special collection is from the Dale and Mary Hawkins Art Collection donated to the museum in 2010.

Echoes of Eastern Montana: Stories from an Open Country: This new interactive exhibit will share stories of the people of the Yellowstone River Valley and Northern High Plains. Visitors can watch interviews, listen to amazing stories, read personal diaries, peruse family photo albums, copy favorite recipes, learn new Crow and Northern Cheyenne words, play games, and hear local music.

People in communities as diverse as Wibaux, Colstrip, Laurel, Hardin, Forsyth, Harlowton and Billings tell compelling stories of sacrifice and struggle and offer lessons about leadership, home, and family. Come laugh at outrageous tales and discover the changing world of Eastern Montana.

Coming Home: The Northern Cheyenne Odyssey: With interactive components, this new traveling exhibit chronicles the largely un-told story of the courageous efforts of the Northern Cheyenne people in their long journey back to their Montana homeland where they reside today. Visitors will hear quotes from Northern Cheyenne leaders, view artifacts, historic photos and ledger art, watch Northern Cheyenne tribal members’ oral histories, and learn new Northern Cheyenne words.

Participation in Museum Day is open to any tax-exempt or governmental museum or cultural venue on a voluntary basis. Smithsonian magazine encourages museum visitation, but is not responsible for and does not endorse the content of the participating museums and cultural venues, and does not subsidize museums that participate.