Discover Billings’ Ancient Civilization

Let’s go back in time – way back – and visit with some of the first people to ever inhabit Billings at Pictograph Cave State Park. As you walk along the trail of this National Historic Landmark, you’ll encounter evidence of a civilization that walked in your very footsteps more than 2,000 years ago. Observing the three caves and still-visible pictographs (rock art) that make up the park, you won’t be able to help imagining what it must have been like to have lived here centuries ago. More than 30,000 artifacts excavated from the site offer an even more detailed glimpse into this ancient civilization that called the region home. 

 

 

 

Get a Bird’s Eye View

One thing people are most eager to see is the rugged Montana landscape of rivers, rolling plains, buttes and badlands. And with just a short hike to the summit of Four Dances Recreation Area, you can get a glimpse of it all. The park is situated atop millions-of-years-old sandstone bluffs known locally as the Rimrocks or “Rims” and the one of the highest elevations in the Billings region. From the scenic lookout, you can take the perfect selfie with the Yellowstone River, grasslands, downtown Billings and snow-capped mountain peaks as the backdrop.

 

 

 

Creature Features

If you want to take a walk on the wilder side of Billings, go to ZooMontana and say “hello” more than 50 other different species of animals. One of the most extraordinary things about ZooMontana is that the animals here come from rescue situations, rehabilitation efforts or are gifted from other facilities, rather than being bred here or imported for exhibition. This rescue-first approach is important in that it supports conservation and rehabilitation efforts, provides lifelong homes to animals who can't return to the wild, and connects people with wildlife. While many of the animals at the zoo are native or near-native such as grizzly bears, wolves, lynx, bison, badgers, others such as Winston (a two-toed sloth from Michigan) and Sofi and Jasime (Amur tigers relocated from a roadside attraction in Florida), have found their forever home in Billings.

 

 

 

Two Heads Are Always Better

On the topic of animals, another unique specimen (of taxidermy) resides at the Yellowstone County Museum. Charlie and Russell is a two-headed calf and mascot of the museum named after old west artist Charles M. Russell. You can even take home a plushie version of Charlie and Russell from the museum’s gift shop. Aside from the interesting livestock display, at the Yellowstone County Museum, you step into a living story of Montana’s past, and the experience unfolds like turning the pages of a history book. The museum gives you a first-hand perspective of life in 1893 Montana including furniture, weapons and other artifacts of the time.

 

 

 

Crisp, Cool and Crafty

Like many big cities, craft beer has become a mainstay of Billings local culture. In fact the Billings Brew Trail was once the only walkable beer trail in Montana. Since its inception, the Brew Trail has expanded throughout all of Billings’ neighborhoods, but many of the locations are among the originals located on a short walk through the vibrant downtown community. As you hike the trail along red-brick sidewalks, you’ll see modern buildings standing next to some of the city’s original architectural marvels. The trail boasts 11 breweries along with three distilleries, a cider mill, and even a winery. So pace yourself and enjoy them all.

 

 

 

Enjoy a Night on the Town

One of those historic buildings you might have seen while walking around downtown as part of your Billings Brew Trail tour is the Alberta Bair Theater – one of Billings’ preeminent entertainment sites and a shimmering relic from the Depression-era revived with community support. Whether you’re drawn to vintage glamour, innovative architecture, or community arts, the Alberta Bair Theater delivers all three. The theater boasts a history of famous performers Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, Marian Anderson and Boris Karloff. Today, the theater is home to a wide variety of cultural events from the Billings Symphony Orchestra’s annual performance of The Nutcracker to Taylor Swift tribute bands and stand-up comedians.

 

 

 

Vistas that Make You Vrooom

While rides in the car used to be the least fun thing about a family vacation, when you’re visiting Billings everyone in the family is likely to make an exception. The Beartooth Highway is one of America’s most scenic byways according to Forbes, and is just a daytrip from downtown Billings. It is surrounded by the Custer, Gallatin and Shoshone National forests and is the center of a vast wilderness filled with soaring peaks, glaciers and lakes, alpine plateaus, forested hillsides, epic waterfalls and amazing wildlife. As you cruise the twists and turns of the Northern Rockies, you’ll be in awe of the big blue skies and vast scenery at every turn. Build in plenty of time for stops to take pictures.

 

 

 

A Pillar of the Billings Community

We began our adventure in the past at Pictograph Cave State Park, and that’s where we’ll return. Although not quite as far in the past. Pompeys Pillar National Monument is a rock outcropping that rises 200 feet above the Yellowstone River, 30 miles east of Billings. Pompeys Pillar is a sort of sandstone history book that reads like a who's who of western frontier history. Look on the rockface for the remains of animal drawings created by people who used the area for rendezvous, campsites and hunting. In 1806 Captain William Clark carved his signature and the date in this rock. It is the only site on the trail where visible evidence of the Lewis and Clark Expedition may be viewed by the public.

 

 

 

Keep exploring the site for even more ideas on how to make the most of your time in Billings, and enjoy exploring the big city born under big skies.