photo by gusto

Billings is Montana’s largest city with a population of 91,195. Its economy is firmly based around oil and farming and it is headquarters to many large banks and healthcare enterprises that service much of northern Wyoming and western South Dakota. Its central location, off I-90 near the Crow Indian Reservation, the Little Bighorn Battlefield, and the Red Lodge Mountain Ski Area, also makes the city an ideal base for visitors touring southern Montana.

Built around the fortunes of the Northern Pacific Railroad and the local ranching community, Billings has retained its cowboy appearance.

Luminaries of the West frequently visited town, including Buffalo Bill Cody and artist Charles Russell. At the Western Heritage Center on Montana Avenue, regional Native American artifacts and images of the Yellowstone River’s early years are on display. The Moss Mansion, designed by Henry Hardenburg, who was the Waldorf-Astoria’s founding architect, is also worth a visit.

By far the most interesting site is Sacrifice Cliff, near the Black Otter Trail off Hwy 318. Legend has it that two Crow warriors, believing the gods were punishing their tribe during an outbreak of smallpox, picked two ponies and rode off the cliffs to celestial glory. The trail is pleasant for a stroll and provides a panoramic view of Billings and the distant mountain ranges.

On Lake Elmo Drive one finds Pictograph Cave State Park, preserving the remnants of a 5,000- year-old prehistoric culture. The site is open only from April to October.

Billings’ Logan Airport is the official gateway to Montana and buses also service the area.