The United States Post Office and Courthouse in Billings, which was constructed in 1914 (and expanded in 1932 and 1940), is a fine example of Second Renaissance Revival architecture. The building is three stories tall and features a buff-covered limestone facade. The courthouse is also significant as the city's first federally constructed post office. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
Located in Billings, Montana, The Western Heritage Center is housed in the former Parmly Billings Memorial Library. The center's mission is to tell the history of the Yellowstone River Valley and Northern Plains—an area covering 72,000 square miles that covers parts of Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota—through educational and outreach programs and long-term and traveling exhibits. It contain numerous historical artifacts, textiles, photographs, and memorabilia. The center, which opened in 1971, also operates an archives. It is has a strong reputation throughout the country and is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution. It is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The building itself was listed to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
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Built in 1910, the historic Masonic Building is significant for its architecture and its association with the Masonic Order, a fraternal orgnanization comprised of prominent men of the period who played an important role in Billing's early development. Architects John Link and Charles Haire designed the building in the Second Renaissance Revival style, which was popular around the country at the turn-of-the century. Link and Haire designed over a dozen of the state's county courthouses and the state capitol building. Today, the Masonic Building is home to an advertising agency, a bookstore, and other retail establishments. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
Yellowstone Art Museum is a modern and contemporary American art museum founded in 1964 that focuses on art created in Montana (specifically, the northern Rocky Mountain and northern plains regions). The largest museum of its kind in the region, it holds a collection of more than 7,400 works of art, and offers a wide variety of programming for visitors of all ages. The museum features changing exbhititions and the first publicly accessible art storage facility in the region called the visible vault, where visitors can get a behind-the-scenes look at how curators manage and care for the collection.
The Dude Rancher Lodge is a historic motel built in 1950. It is significant for its design and the period in which it was constructed. The architect firm Cushing and Terrell Architects designed it with a Western, rustic-style theme. Specifically, it has the feel of an Old West ranch house at the peak of the cattle industry in Montana. As for the time when it was built, the lodge represents the post-World War II building boom in Billings, when the economies of the city, state, and rest of the country grew rapidly after the war. The lodge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. It has retained much of its original appearance.
Named for its builder and first owner, the Austin North House is a historic home built in 1902. Austin North was a successful businessman during the early 20th century, serving as president of the North Real Estate Company. In this position (and others), he played a large role in promoting Billing's growth. Prominent local architecture firm Link and Haire designed the house to resemble a castle. As such, it features a three-story turret, battlements, and semi-circular arches over windows. At the time it was erected, the home was in an undeveloped part of town. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
The Moss Mansion was built in 1903 by Preston Moss and was designed by a famous designer named Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, who also designed the Waldorf Astoria and Plaza Hotels. The mansion was built for the prominent Moss family and was occupied by the family until the mid-1980s. The mansion is featured in a few films such as: Son of the Morning Star and Return to Lonesome. The mansion is listed in the National Register of Historical Places and is an ideal venue for any occasion. The mansion still contains all of the furnishings and personal artifacts that belonged to the Moss family.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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This short walk through Billings include several historic buildings and homes such as Moss Mansion and the Austin North House. The tour also includes some of Billings downtown historical and cultural organizations such as the Western Heritage Center and Yellowstone Art Museum..
