Billings, which is Montana’s
largest city, has a great deal in common with its smaller sister
Missoula. Both are cities with a strong grip in their heritage
and an eye on their future. Both are college towns (Billings is
the home of Montana State University). And Billings, like Missoula,
is a great base of operations from which visitors can explore
Montana’s natural wonders and outdoor adventures.
Billings is no slouch in the culture department. Far from it,
it can boast the impressive parade of performing arts and cultural
events that come to the prestigious Alberta Bair Theater. Regional
and western artists are on display at the very fine Yellowstone
Art Museum. The kids will flip over Zoo Montana’s Wolverines,
Bald Eagle and Red Pandas.
History Buffs will want to take a tour of the Moss Mansion, the
red sandstone building built in 1903 by lumber mogul and Democratic
congressman Preston Boyd Moss.
There are 3 national parks within a day’s drive of Billings
Montana: Yellowstone, Glacier and Grand Teton. The surrounding
mountains, rivers and woodlands are full of enough Elk, Moose,
Deer, upland birds and waterfowl to keep hunters happy. Anglers
can cast their lines in Rock Creek or the Boulder, Stillwater
and Yellowstone Rivers, and their tributaries. All manner of water
sports are available at Billing’s area reservoirs.
History buffs take note: The Little Bighorn
Battlefield National Monument is only 60 miles southeast of Billings
Montana, where the forces of Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull defeated and
destroyed General George Armstrong Custer and 225 cavalry soldiers.
