Yellowstone County Museum

05/26/2026

🚨 ANNOUNCEMENT⚠️

June 2nd to June 5th, the Museum will be closed for safety purposes as new flooring is being put down. We will open on June 6th for our Family Fun Day and to show off our new floors!

This week, the Museum will be open with some sections closed off as we prepare for our refresh.

We look forward to seeing you on June 6th! 🎊

05/26/2026

Good morning, everyone!

The Museum IS open this week, however, due to us putting down new flooring in the lower level, some sections will be closed off. We are so excited to have fresh, new flooring and for you all to join us at our Family Fun Day on June 6th from 1 pm to 4 pm!

05/14/2026

Here's a brief conversation between YCM Board Chairman Randy Bentley and Hello Montana's Tawnya Rush about our recent renovations and upcoming Family Fun Day!

Family Fun Day will be held on June 6th from 1 to 4 PM and will feature many kid-friendly activities and refreshments. See you then!

The Yellowstone County Museum is hosting a Family Fun Day as a part of the museum’s grand-reopening. YCM’s beautiful and updated expansion offers more community engagement opportunities along with …

05/09/2026

Come and join us on June 6th for a Family Fun Day and to celebrate the completion of our construction projects!
The event will be from 1-4 pm and is sure to have something for the whole family to enjoy 🎉

04/11/2026

We’re excited to share that we have two new displays at the Museum!

As you head down the stairwell, you’ll now find works by Montana’s beloved sharpshooter Tom Frye 🎯. His incredible pieces—including his iconic Native American silhouette and the lovable Muppet duo Bert and Ernie—showcase a truly unique artistic technique.

Using precision and skill, Frye transformed bullet holes into striking works of art —something you definitely have to see to believe!

In the corner by the doors to the deck, explore what makes the Rimrocks so special, and discover what this land may have looked like millions of years ago.

Stop by the Museum and take a closer look at how unexpected materials can create something extraordinary.

04/04/2026

Today we are sharing a photo in our collection of the 1950 Elks Easter Egg Hunt in North Park!🐰

🥚Eggs have long been symbols of renewal, rebirth, and new life, meanings that stretch back thousands of years across cultures around the world. Long before Easter, eggs were tied to springtime and fertility in many pre-Christian traditions, marking the end of winter and the promise of a fresh start.

The tradition of decorating eggs is just as ancient. Archaeologists have even found engraved ostrich eggs in Africa dating back as far as 60,000 years! Across the globe, cultures have embraced this practice: from Persian New Year celebrations to the intricate Ukrainian art of pysanky.

As Christianity spread, eggs became part of Easter traditions. Early Christians in Mesopotamia dyed eggs red to symbolize Christ’s sacrifice, and after the Lenten season—when eggs were often avoided—they became a special holiday treat.

Today, whether made of chocolate, sugar, or carefully decorated shells, Easter eggs continue a long tradition of creativity, symbolism, and celebration!

03/28/2026

Shortly after arriving in Billings in 1891, Paul McCormick and his wife Mary quickly became part of the growing community. By March of 1893, Paul had built a small cabin behind their Victorian-style downtown home which he affectionately called his “Daniel Boone cabin.” This cozy space became a hub for dinners, gatherings, and lively conversation.

The chair, couch, and table you see here? They’re original pieces from that very social space and witnesses to the stories, friendships, and moments that helped shape early Billings.

Today, the McCormick cabin has taken on a new role. Once the Museum’s entrance, it now serves as an exhibit space where visitors can explore Paul McCormick’s life and contributions, alongside the broader story of settlement in the Yellowstone River Valley—and even enjoy a look at our wildlife displays.

Stop by and step inside a space where history was not just lived, but shared!

03/21/2026

Just as you step into the McCormick Cabin, you might notice a curious little cup sitting on a table. This cup is not only decorated in an elegant floral pattern, also performs a special function!

British potter Harvey Adams is credited to the invention of the mustache cup after noticing the (very important!) need of the 19th century masses to protect their perfectly waxed mustaches from the steam coming from their tea. 🫖.

His invention was so successful, he was able to retire in 15 years!

Come see this clever piece of history for yourself and discover the many everyday objects that tell the story of life in Yellowstone County.

03/07/2026

⏰ Don’t forget to “spring forward!” ⏰

Today is the day before we move our clocks forward one hour here in the United States (excluding Hawaii and most of Arizona).

At the Yellowstone County Museum, you can see a piece of local timekeeping history in our Bar Scene: a grandfather clock that once stood in several Billings businesses beginning around 1902. Known locally as the “Big Clock,” it was said that railroad workers at the Depot set their watches by it at the turn of the last century—helping bring reliable timekeeping to the growing community.

Humans have been keeping track of time for thousands of years. Early civilizations used sundials, first developed by the Babylonians, followed by water clocks and later mechanical clocks in the 1300s. One of the earliest mechanical clocks was built around 1360 by Henry de Vick for King Charles V of France.

The pendulum clock—a major breakthrough in accuracy—appeared in 1656 thanks to Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens, who was inspired by Galileo Galilei’s earlier observations of pendulums.

Next time you visit, take a moment to look for the Big Clock in our Bar Scene and imagine a time when the entire town might have set their watches by it.

And don’t forget to set your own clocks!

02/21/2026

This week, we’re featuring a charming piece from our collection — a child’s buckskin purse! 🧵✨

Take a close look at the beadwork and you’ll notice something special. This style is often called “Bead Soup,” a technique where, instead of following a specific pattern, the artist used leftover and assorted beads to create a colorful, one-of-a-kind design. The result is vibrant, joyful, and full of personality — much like the child who once carried it.

Even small, everyday items like this purse tell meaningful stories. They remind us that creativity, resourcefulness, and beauty were woven into daily life — and that nothing went to waste.

Stop by the Yellowstone County Museum to see pieces like this up close!