Locating Our Storied Past

Historical Sites

One of the objectives of YHS is to preserve the storied past of Billings and Yellowstone county. One way we do this is to help locate and mark historical spots. YHS has been installing markers at sites since the 1950’s. These include the battlefields of our nations past, trails our ancestors traveled as they discovered the West, points of interest that are important to our history. Below are some of the markers, landmarks, and Displays we have either helped install, raise funds for, or manage.

Yellowstone Trail

The Yellowstone Trail was the first transcontinental automobile highway through the upper tier of states in the United States, established on May 23, 1912. It was an Auto Trail that ran from the Atlantic Ocean in Plymouth, Massachusetts, through Montana to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, to the Pacific Ocean in Washington.

Trail Presentation

Coulson City

“When the railroad came to the area Coulson residents were sure the town would become the railroads hub and Coulson would soon be the Territories largest city. Being able to make far more money by creating a new town the railroad decided to create the new town of Billings. Today Coulson Park, a Billings city park, sits on the river bank where Coulson once was.”

Canyon Creek Battle Site

The Battle of Canyon Creek was a military engagement between the Nez Perce Indians and the United States 7th Cavalry. It took place on September 13, 1877, west of present-day Billings, Montana.

POW Camp

Riverside Park, shaded with giant cottonwood trees and located on the banks of the Yellowstone River, is a historical park. At one time this site was a Japanese and German prisoner of war camp.

Bozeman Trail

The Bozeman Trail was an overland route connecting the gold rush territory of Montana to the Oregon Trail. Its most important period was from 1863–68.