In recent years, Billings has welcomed talented and innovative artists and creators who compliment a community that celebrates its Native American and Crow Nation heritage. Many of Billings’ most cherished attractions – such as the Yellowstone County Museum and the Western Heritage Center – pay homage to the city’s deep history while downtown galleries and venues – both new and historic renovations – celebrate the present day.

 

Western Heritage Center:  An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the Western Heritage Center is located in one of Billings’ oldest buildings, the original Parmly Billings Memorial Library. The museum takes care of about 16,000 artifacts that showcase the history of the Yellowstone River Valley, and there are 8 to 10 rotating exhibits each year that help bring the history to life. Some of the current exhibits include the original cabin and art studio of James Kenneth Ralston, an artist from the late 1800s whose work depicts growing up on Montana ranches, and “The Story of Us: A History of Billings in 25 Objects,” which features items like Frederick Billings’ personal briefcase, an original 1879 Montana Territorial map and even a 2020 Covid-19 mask designed by local inventors.

 

Yellowstone Art Museum:  The Yellowstone Art Museum was founded in 1964 to focus on contemporary, avantgarde work originating in the northern Rockies region, and today collects art from all historic periods, emphasizing artists working in Montana and the American Northwest. The museum is home to the largest gathering of drawings, paintings, books and memorabilia of cowboy illustrator Will James, as well as works by famous regional artists like J.H. Sharp, Charles M. Russell and others. Exhibits frequently rotate so visitors should check out the museum’s website to learn what is currently on display.

Yellowstone County Museum:  Organized in 1953, the Yellowstone County Museum focuses on interpreting the natural history and diverse cultures of the Yellowstone Valley of Montana and the Northern Plains. The historic McCormick Cabin serves as the entrance to the museum, which showcases more than 15,000 artifacts representing the history of the region. In addition to several Native American artifacts from the region and moments in time like the 1890 Ghost Dance (the world’s largest collection of such objects), the museum showcases cowboy and western artifacts through exhibits exploring an 1890s saloon, antique firearms and a 1901 steam engine. 

Harry Koyama Fine Art Gallery:  Harry Koyama Fine Art is the studio/gallery of Montana native Harry Koyama. A full-time painter, Koyama concentrates on immortalizing subjects of the American West, including of western wildlife, Native American subjects and local landscapes. His work demonstrates his passion for impressionism to create dramatic artwork with the use of the painting knife and a bold color scheme. The studio and gallery is located in downtown Billing’s historic district.

Terakedis Fine Art & Jewelry:  Located in downtown Billings, Terakedis Fine Art and Jewelry carries the finest in original artwork and hand-crafted jewelry from emerging and established artists in Montana and the surrounding region.

Alberta Bair Theater:  Created in 1987 with a dream of bringing the excitement of the performing arts to the people of the Northern Rockies and to enhance the quality of life in Billings, the Alberta Bair Theater has hosted the finest performers in every discipline of the performing arts, including classical and popular music, country music and jazz, opera, ballet, modern and ethnic dance, comedy, drama and musical theater. The theater is located in the 1920-era building originally known as the Fox Theatre, and underwent a $13.6 million renovation in 2018 to better meet the needs of touring productions and audience expectations, will reopen in 2021 with acts including Kristin Chenowith, John Driskell Hopkins Band, and Raul Midón. 

 

Tippet Rise Art Center:  Tippet Rise Art Center is located in Fishtail, Montana, against the backdrop of the Beartooth Mountains, roughly midway between Billings and Bozeman and north of Yellowstone National Park. Set on a 12,000-acre working sheep and cattle ranch, Tippet Rise hosts classical chamber music and recitals and exhibits large-scale, outdoor sculptures. Tippet Rise celebrates the concept that art, music, architecture, and nature are inextricably linked in the human experience, each making the others more powerful. The art center features musical performance spaces indoors and out, with programs that seek to create memorable experiences for performers and audience members alike.