The library was built in 1901 and designed by C.S. Baire in the Romanesque style. It was given to the city by Frederick Billings Jr., the son of Frederick Billings, for whom the town was named after; he was also the former president of the Northern Pacific Railroad. The library was named after Frederick Jr.'s brother, Parmly. The Western Heritage Center opened in 1971 and has grown significantly since then. In 2001, the center received the Montana&nbsp;Governor's Humanities Award in recognition for its services and accomplishments.&nbsp;

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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.

Western Heritage Center (Parmly Billings Memorial Library)

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..

The courthouse is also historically significant for what it represents. The federal government built it at the height of Billings' growth during the early 20th century, and its construction symbolized the city's increasing importance as a key economic center for eastern Montana. Frederick Billings, for whom the city is named and the president of the Northern Pacific Railroad, founded the city in the early 1880s. The railroad served as the catalyst for the city's rapid growth as ranchers and farmers could easily ship livestock, grain and other products to markets. The population rose to well over 3,000 by 1890 and would continue to grow in the following decades, demonstrating to the federal government that it was not simply a boom-and-bust town, but a stable community worthy of federal presence.

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.

United States Post Office and Courthouse

A group of entrepreneurs bought the land to establish Billings from the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1882 (the land was part of a land grand the railroad received from the U.S. government). Soon, Billings became an important transportation center for south-central Montana, which attracted people to the city including masons. The masons actually wanted to build a masonic building in 1883 but, due to lack of funds, were not able to do so until 1907 when construction began.As stated above, businessmen and other prominent men were members of the order. All of them contributed, in various ways, to the economic growth of Billings in those early years. One of these men was Preston Moss (he built a mansion which is a <a href="https://www.theclio.com/entry/6656" target="_blank">Clio entry</a> and also listed on the National Register of Historic Places), who established a telephone company, newspaper (this would become the Billings Gazette, a central heating plant, and the Billings Utility Company, and other business ventures.The masons occupied the building until 1984 when they built a newer home. The ad agency purchased the building in 2003.

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.

Masonic Building

The museum opened as the Yellowstone Art Center in 1964 and was located in the former county jail building. Initially, the museum operated with a budget of just $70,000 and three staff members. The museum grew in the coming years and in 1982 earned accreditation from the American Association of Museums. The museum built its new, current facility in 1998 and opened the Visible Vault in 2010. Over the years, the museum has been recognized for its success as an art institution, including receiving the Montana Governor's Award in 1995 and a number of grants. The museums remains accredited, one of seven in the state.

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. 

Yellowstone Art Museum

Businessman Percival Groan, and his wife, Annabel, established the Dude Rancher Lodge Corporation in 1949 and built the lodge in order to capitalize on the growing tourist industry (Americans could now afford to travel and many began to visit the nearby Yellowstone National Park). They decided to build the lodge in a rustic theme to offer a unique destination for visitors. Annabel was largely responsible for designing the interior, which featured ranch-type furniture, knotty pine wood paneling, tongue-and-grooved doors with "Z" braces, large woven rope handrails, and drapes with cowboys on bucking broncos, Indian warriors, Indian pictographs. The lodge remained in the family until 1992, when the corporation officially dissolved.

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.

Dude Rancher Lodge 

Austin North was born in Iowa in 1869 where he grew up on a farm. After taking some college courses, he moved to Billings in 1883. He found work in the post office and then with the Northern Pacific Railroad. He founded his company on January 1, 1892 and got married two years later. He helped developed many subdivisions, a country club, and city athletic field, and was also a part owner of the Billings Daily Gazette. Unfortunately, his life was cut short when he fell from a tree in San Antonio in 1928. Subsequent owners of the house have kept it in good condition. The current owner converted the carriage house into a guest house and the stable is now a restaurant.

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.

Austin North House

The Moss Mansion was built in 1903
by Preston Boyd Moss, and was designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh; who was
also the designer of the original Waldorf Astoria and Plaza Hotels. This
mansion is three stories tall, contains twenty- eight rooms, is on two acres of
land, and costed $105,000 dollars to
build and furnish. The twenty- eight rooms consist of: parlors, dining
rooms, bathrooms, closets, libraries, sitting rooms, and garden rooms. There
had to be plenty of room in this house for the large family, and their
servants. 

Mr. Moss was born in Paris, Missouri in 1863 during the time of the Civil
War. He attended Kemper Military Academy in Booneville, Missouri for high
school and junior college. After junior college, he attended Harvard for a
year, and ended up finishing his education at Eastman Business College, which
was in Poughkeepsie, New York. He worked for his father in a bank and soon
learned the business. He used his knowledge in banking to create his own
business, and purchased several lumber yards. 

Mr. Moss met a woman named Martha Jackson, who was a college educated
woman, and was thought to be talented in music and art. The two were married in
Paris, Missouri on June 5, 1889. They had their first child, Woodson Jackson
Moss on April 17, 1890, and their second child Kula on December 29, 1891. The
Moss family moved to Billings, Montana in 1892, where Mr. Moss became a
significant businessman. He created the first ever dial telephone company, and formed
a newspaper which led to the establishing of the Billings Gazette. He also started
a central heating plant, as well as the Billings Utility Company. Mr. Moss also
became a leader in the Masons' Montana State Organization, and he served on the
Billings School Board. He was known for making a difference in children’s lives
by improving the public education that was offered. 

Their children became: ranchers, mangers of the home, and workers of
either a business of the family, or the railroad. Most of their children got
married except for their daughter Melville. She became the caretaker of the
Moss Mansion, and managed to get the home listed on the National Register of
Historic Places. In 1982, the home was sold to the City of Billings, and is now
overseen by the Montana Historical Society. 

Today, the Moss Mansion is still
listed in the National Register of Historical Places and has actually been on a
couple movies such as: Son of the Morning Star, and Return to Lonesome Dove. All
of the original fixtures, drapes, carpets, and furnishings still remain in the
home, and each room still contains items which belonged to members of the
family. Some of these items include: quilts, a harp, paintings, and many china
patterns. Also, the wood paneling, gold threaded walls, hand painted walls,
marble fireplaces, and elegant doorways are the same as when the Moss family
left them. The call button system which was meant for the servants, is also
still in the mansion and is an interesting piece of technology from that time
period. Many events such as weddings, baby showers, tea parties, and private
gatherings are held in the mansion; it is seen as the ideal venue for any
occasion.

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. 

Billings Montana Walking Tour

Western Heritage Center (Parmly Billings Memorial Library)

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information