Billings is the largest city in the US state of Montana. The city is set in the Yellowstone Valley, which was settled and developed in the late 19th century. In 1877, settlers established Coulson as the first town, and it was then a lawless place. When the railroad came to the area, the railroad owned land west of Coulson, and the company established Billings as a railroad town in 1882, naming it after Frederick H. Billings, president of the Northern Pacific Railways 1879-1881.

At first there were three buildings here, but in a few months 2,000 had settled in the new town. Some of the settlers came from Coulson, which as a town disappeared in the 1930s. By 1910, Billings had more than 10,000 residents, and growth continued throughout the century. The city became the center of energy production after the discovery of oil and gas in Montana and Wyoming, and later many high-rise buildings were built from the 1970s and 1980s.

Today you can enjoy some nice walks in central Billings. You can find the historic district in the area next to and not least southwest of the city’s railway station building on Montana Avenue. The station was built in 1909 and used by the three railway companies Northern Pacific Railway, Great Northern and Chicago and Burlington and Quincy. Amtrak discontinued train services in 1979, and now the station is set up for various events. Walking from the former station along Montana Avenue to the southwest, there are many old buildings that give an impression of Billing’s growth in the early decades of the city history.

After the first tent city, wooden houses and later stone houses were built, such as the Parmly Billings Memorial Library from 1901, which today is set open as the Western Heritage Center, which conveys stories from the Yellowstone River Valley through various exhibitions. From Montana Avenue you can walk along side streets such as N Broadway, where there are also many older houses forming the streetscape.

There are several museums and cultural institutions in Billings as well. In the center is the Alberta Bair Theater, which originally opened in a contemporary art deco setting in 1931. After the decline of the classic theaters downtown, the theater was modernized, and it is today one of Billings’ leading arts and performances venue. Nearby you can see the historic Babcock Theater, which opened in 1907 as the largest theater between Minneapolis and Seattle.

In the city, you can also visit the Yellowstone Art Museum, which is the largest museum of modern art in the state of Montana. Another interesting place is the Moss Mansion in the southwestern part of Billings’ downtown. The mansion was built in 1901 as a residence for the Moss family. The mansion is an great example of an elegant residence from the city’s first decades.

You can also explore the areas that originally made up the town of Coulson, which was founded before Billings. Coulson originated in what is today called Coulson Park, which was strategically located along the Yellowstone River. When Billings was growing, the old Coulsons site was never developed, and it is now forming an open space on the river.

Boothill Cemetery is also interesting and located a short distance north of Coulson Park. Boothill Cemetery was Coulson’s graveyard, and it is said to have gotten its name from the many buried people who were killed with their boots on. South of the city, you can get to the Yellowstone River, where the fine Riverfront Park is located. You can also enjoy some lovely surroundings at DanWalt Gardens and the natural area Pictograph Cave State Park, located a few miles east of Billings.