Historical Markers in
Yellowstone County, Montana

1040 North 31 Street 1102 North 31 Street 1109 North 31 Street 1109 North 32 Street 1110 North 31 Street 1111 North 31 Street 1111 North 32 Street 1115 North 31 Street 1119 North 31 Street 1123 North 31 Street 1125 North 31 Street 1131 North 32 Street 1143 North 31 Street 1145 North 32 Street 1147 North 31 Street 901 North 32 Street A Crossroads of Events A Good Home Abraham and Carrie Erb Residence Actor Bill Hart Visits Montana Avenue - 1927 Aftermath of the Battle All We Need is Some Water Along the Zimmerman Trail An Automobile at the Cigar Store Armour Cold Storage Arnold Graf House Austin North House Babcock Theater Battle of Canyon Creek Battle of the Little Bighorn Billings Chamber of Commerce Building Billings Clinic: Healthcare on the Frontier Billings Implement Building Billings Old Town Historic District Billings Townsite Historic District Billings: The Father and the Son Billings' Chinatown Billings' First Bank - 1883 Billings' Humble Beginnings Black Gold Boothill Cemetery Buffalo Country Buffalo: Then and Now Calamity Jane Visits Montana Avenue - 1894 Camp #44 of the 1873 Yellowstone Expedition Canyon Creek Battle Chamber Log Cabin Chief Plenty Coups Visits - circa 1921 Children of the Large-Beaked Bird Clark's Canoe Camp on the Yellowstone, Archaeology Study Coal in the Treasure State Coal: Black Wave of the Future Crossing the Yellowstone Crystal Saloon Electric Building Enjoying Our Parks Explorer, Guide, and Hunter Fire House No. 2 Frederick Billings Garfield School George L. Tracy Building Historical Downtown Laurel Houses of Ill Repute How Billings Got Its News How the Railroad Shaped Our Town I.D. O'Donnell Home Injury Forces a Halt to Build Canoes J.K. Ralston Cabin-Studio Junction of Bighorn and Yellowstone Rivers Junction of Bighorn and Yellowstone Rivers L and L Building Lewis & Clark expedition July 24, 1806 Lewis and Clark Yellowstone River Journey Losekamp Block Luther Sage "Yellowstone" Kelly Making Canoes, Then and Now McMullen Hall Mills Durant Star Building Montana's 70 Million Year Old Beach Moss Mansion Nez Perce National Historical Park North Elevation Historic District North School's Bell Northern Cheyenne Tribe Northern Pacific Depot "Union Station" Oliver Building Open Spaces: Room to Roam Parks for the People Pompey's Pillar Pompey's Pillar Pouder Furniture Building Preparations of Continuing the Trip Price Motor Sales Ranching on the Plains Rex Hotel Robert (Bob) Martin Sawyer Stores Sign of American Indians Skeleton Cliff St. Vincent Healthcare Standing Outside the Stockman's Café Steamboat City on the River Surely this spot was meant for Yellowstone Kelley Swift and Company Building Teddy Roosevelt Visits the Depot - 1918 Tenth Avenue Grocery The 2700 Block, Montana Avenue - circa 1909 The ARU Railroad Strike - 1894 The Battle at Canyon Creek The Beanery - 1909 The Billings Brewery - Opened in 1899 The Billings Opera House - circa 1915 The Changing Faces of Pompeys Pillar The Chapple Drug Store - 1893 The Clark Hotel - 1928 The College Life The Dude Rancher Lodge The Eagle Hotel - circa 1905 The Fight or Flight of the Nez Perce The Flood of 1937 The Gazette Building - circa 1935 The Great Highway of the Northwest: The Yellowstone Trail The Great Montana Centennial Cattle Drive Monument The Iron Horse Comes To Billings The Losekamp Building - 1903 The McCormick Hotel - 1905 The Nomadic Experience The Northern Pacific Depot - 1909 The Oxford Hotel - 1918 The Parmly Billings Library - 1901 The People's Mansion The Place Where the White Horse Went Down The Pompeys Pillar Legacy The Purity Bread Company The Sawyer Stores - 1928 The Selvidge/Babcock Building - circa 1925 The Stockman Bar - circa 1945 The Yellowstone Garage - 1920 The Yellowstone River The Yellowstone Trail The "Yellowstone River" Walkway Theodore Roosevelt's Last Speech Three Forks: Clark's Party Splits Transportation: Hoofing It Transportation: Traveling Downstream Triumph and Torment Using Modern Mapping Technology to Help Solve a 200 Year-Old Mystery West Side School Where the River Meets the Rims Who was Luther Sage "Yellowstone" Kelly? Yellowstone Kelly's Grave Yellowstone River: A Water Expressway Yukon Bar
The town of Libby, Montana, was the site of one of the worst environmental disasters in US history, when it was discovered that vermiculite mined from the area was contaminated with asbestos. The contamination led to widespread illness and death, and cleanup efforts have been ongoing for several decades.
Yellowstone County is located in the state of Montana and has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. Native American tribes such as the Crow and Shoshone-Bannock inhabited the region long before European settlers arrived. The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through the area in 1806, noting the breathtaking landscapes and abundant wildlife. In the mid-1800s, fur trappers and traders began exploring the region more extensively.

The discovery of gold in Montana in the 1860s brought a wave of settlers to the area, including Yellowstone County. The county was officially established in 1883 and was named after the nearby Yellowstone River, which runs through the region. Throughout this period, the Native American populations were pushed out of their ancestral lands and onto reservations.

Yellowstone County experienced significant growth during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The arrival of the Northern Pacific Railway in 1882 spurred economic development and the establishment of several towns, including Billings, which would become the county seat. Agriculture and ranching became prominent industries in the region, taking advantage of the fertile land and natural resources.

In the 20th century, Yellowstone County continued to grow, with industries diversifying and expanding. The discovery of oil in the 1920s led to the establishment of oil refineries and boosted the local economy. The county also played a significant role in World War II, with the construction of the Billings Army Air Base. Today, Yellowstone County is a thriving area, known for its natural beauty, outdoor recreation opportunities, and a mix of urban and rural communities.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Yellowstone County, Montana.

  • 1800s: Yellowstone County was inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Crow and Sioux.
  • 1806: Captain William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition explored the area, documenting its natural wonders.
  • 1862: John Bozeman blazed a trail through the county, which later developed into the Bozeman Trail used by settlers heading to Montana's gold fields.
  • 1864: Yellowstone County was officially established as part of Montana Territory.
  • 1872: Yellowstone National Park, which includes parts of Yellowstone County, became the world's first national park.
  • 1882: The Northern Pacific Railway reached the county, boosting economic growth and settlement.
  • 1883: Billings, the largest city in Montana and the county seat of Yellowstone County, was founded.
  • 20th century: The county experienced significant growth in agriculture, oil, and transportation industries.
  • 1978: The Yellowstone County Museum opened, preserving the region's history and culture.
  • Today, Yellowstone County continues to be an economic hub and a gateway to Yellowstone National Park.