Billings

Music to accompany this page:
Into the Great Wide Open, by Tom Petty

The city of Billings, Montana has often been referred to as the Gateway of the Yellowstone National Park. It was once inhabited by the Mountain Crow Indians who were drawn to the area by abundant wildlife, game and fruit that dominated it. In 1877, a trading post and stage station were erected, and the region took the name of Coulson, after a steamship manager who resided in the area. When the Northern Pacific Railroad arrived in 1882 to survey the area, the town was renamed after the company's president, Frederick Billings. Since those days the small town has grown and prospered, becoming the largest city within the state of Montana. Cattle ranching remains one of the most profitable businesses within Billings, followed by agricultural production. Tourism has grown with leaps and bounds as people flock to the city that is nestled at the foot of Yellowstone, Little Bighorn Battlefield, ski resorts and water recreation areas along the many nearby rivers.

Moss Mansion was built at the turn of the century, from designs that were drawn by architect H.J. Hardenbergh, who also designed the Waldorf-Astoria and Plaza Hotels in New York City. Preston Boyd Moss had arrived in Billings after purchasing a chain of lumber yards. He diversified his interests into a wide spectrum of fields, including banking, start up of the first local dial up telephone company, electrical and water utilities, a newspaper and sheep herding. It was completed in 1903 at a total cost of $105,000, and was furnished lavishly. Twenty years later, the deed to the property was lost, when the bank became delinquent on the taxes. Yellowstone County then became the property owners and the Moss family continued to live in the home, for the benefit of the structure. When the house went up for auction in 1928, the only bid received was for a mere 15% of the original construction cost. Mrs. Moss was able to gather funds, and place a bid of $17,000 for the mansion. Sixty years later the house would again be available for sale, and this time went for $450,000 to the Billings Preservation Society.

The existence of man in the Billings area from over 4,500 years ago is documented on the walls of caves to the southeast of the city. It is here, at the Pictograph Cave State Park, that researchers have learned the ancient history of the region by studying the paintings. These painting tell stories of events that occurred which held significance to the Indians that inhabited the area. The paints were composed of crude mixtures of animal fats, ashes and clays. During 1937 and 1938, an excavation of the area was conducted and turned up over 30,000 artifacts that included arrowheads, bones from large mammals, bits of pottery and baskets, and footwear. Situated in the same area of two more caves, Middle Cave and Ghost Cave. All of these caves provided shelter for the Indians during the hot, dry summers and sometimes snowy and frigid winters.

The Battlefield of Little Bighorn Monument is often referred to as Custer's Last Stand. It is here, that one of the final battles between the Northern Plains Indians and Euro-Americans was fought on June 25 and 26 in 1876. The Cheyenne and Sioux Indians, led by Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and Two Moon achieved victory at they killed the entire battalion of the 7th Cavalry, led by Lieutenant Colonel George Custer. A mass grave was set up for the battalion, and later declared a national monument. No recognition was given to the American Indians that had proved themselves victorious in battle, defending their homeland. Shortly after the battle the Indians were moved onto reservations. In 1991, the U.S. Congress order the construction of a memorial to be erected, honoring the American Indians, that fought diligently at Little Bighorn.

ZooMontana is a rather small zoo, yet it has big visions. A major concern for the zoo is that they take strides in the conversation of endangered species of wildlife. One of their more current projects involves research and testing of vaccines and reproduction. Since many animals are displaced or killed off by predators, the need to increase those populations before they become endangered is pinnacle. They also offer a wide variety of educational programs for the public, educating them on the animals within the zoo's population. The animals that they have on display, are housed in what are best termed habitats. ZooMontana houses only animals that can survive it's climate, therefore allowing them to present surroundings that are most like that in which the animals exist in the "regular" world. The major exhibits include the Siberian Tiger Habitat, home to two siberian tigers; the North American River Otter habitat, where otters that may be found in virtually any part of our country call home; the Sika Deer habitat, only one of two like it within the United States; the Eastern Grey Wolf habitat, where a pair of these wolves run around; and the Waterfowl habitat, loaded with an array of different birds that reside along coastal and river shores.

Billings continued...

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