Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board

Projects & Programs

Architectural and Historic Survey for Downtown Billings, 1998-1999

A team of professionals, lead by project director and architect Kim Olsen, completed an architectural and historic survey documenting significant buildings in downtown Billings. Sponsored by the Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board and funded by the City of Billings Tax Increment Program, the survey provides research material for educational programs and serves as an economic development tool for historic preservation efforts in downtown Billings. Two walking tours, developed as part of the survey, will be valuable interpretive activities for students and educators as well as for tourists who visit this region. Nation-wide, preservation and educational efforts reflecting the historic and architectural fabric of a community are primary contributors to downtown revitalization projects.

For the survey, the Western Heritage Center provided administrative and technical assistance to the project team that identified thirty buildings in an area encompassing more than 20 blocks. Chere Justo, historic preservation consultant for the project, researched and documented each of the thirty buildings in detail. Assisting Ms. Justo was Teresa Tillinger, a graduate student intern from Montana State University. The documentation included information gathered about original and later occupants of each building, styles of architecture, and the building's significance to the development of the City of Billings and the Yellowstone region. Billings' photographer, Paul Whiting, researched and copied historic photographs and photographed the thirty buildings. Global information system specialist Jere Folgert and consultant Anne Cossitt, worked on producing GIS maps of the survey area, scripts for two walking tours, and the design of an interactive Web page which will feature the architectural and historic research material and walking tours.

The original research material is housed in the archives of the Western Heritage Center. For archive hours, contact Kevin Kooistra-Manning, Western Heritage Center, at 406-256-6809, ext. 127, or kevinkm@ywhc.org. The Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board is seeking partners in the downtown to assist with printing walking tour brochures and funding interpretive panels for the kiosks on Montana Avenue.

Bricks and Boards

Since 1998, the Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board and the Western Heritage Center have invited young people to document their favorite buildings in downtown Billings and Laurel. During this fall event, local youngsters are given cameras and information on architecture and, accompanied by their parents, they are invited explore their downtown environs with an eye towards photographing historic buildings, architectural elements and signs. A Bricks and Boards exhibit, displayed in the Community Gallery of the Western Heritage Center during the spring, shares their creative perspectives and delightful descriptions of the buildings we all cherish.

2003-2004 Project Coordinators:

Kevin Kooistra-Manning, Maggie Weamer and Franco Little Light

2003-2004 Design and Production:

Kirby Bakken of CTA Architects Engineers

Special thanks to the 2003-2004 Bricks and Boards sponsors:

Albertson’s, CTA Architects Engineers, Osco Drug,

Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board, Western Heritage Center,

and the young photographers who made this project possible.

To book Bricks and Boards for exhibition or to obtain copies of the exhibit panels for a nominal fee, please contact Kevin Kooistra-Manning, Western Heritage Center, at 406-256-6809, ext. 127, or kevinkm@ywhc.org.

Expansion of the Billings Townsite Historic District

The Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board is currently pursuing the expansion of the Billings Townsite Historic District to include additional properties on Montana Avenue, South Broadway and Minnesota Avenue. We began this process last winter at the request of several property owners in the Montana and Minnesota Avenue corridors. We held a public meeting in January, 2004, and in June we surveyed all the property owners in the proposed expansion area to determine the level of support. In response to their petition and positive reaction to our survey, the YHPB authorized the continued phased expansion of the existing historic district. The work to achieve the expansion will be completed in partnership with the Western Heritage Center, under contract to the City of Billings, and will include a zone change and completion of the nomination materials for the National Register of Historic Places. Contact John Walsh, Historic Preservation Officer, at 657-8286 or WalshJ@ci.billings.mt.us, for more information about the continuing expansion of the historic district.

Historic Preservation Month

Presentations and educational activities highlight historic preservation during the month of May.

Laurel Walking Tour Brochure

In the spirit of celebrating the history and architecture of downtown Laurel, the Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board sponsored a walking tour guide in conjunction with the State Historic Preservation Office, Western Heritage Center, City of Laurel, Cenex Refinery and Heins Creative. The brochure takes visitors on a journey through city’s past by sharing the history of sixteen of Laurel’s more prominent historic buildings. A thousand copies of the brochure were printed and distributed to the Laurel Chamber of Commerce and the City of Laurel.

Photographic Survey of Billings’ South Side

The diversity of architecture on the South Side, more than any other area of the city, embodies the historic, cultural and economic diversity of our community. The Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board, in conjunction with the Western Heritage Center, has compiled an archive of photographs documenting the architecture of Billings’ oldest neighborhoods. YHPB consultant Ann Kooistra-Manning has developed a PowerPoint presentation to share these photographs with schools, community groups, and other interested organizations.

For more information about the South Side presentation or photographic archives, please contact Kevin Kooistra-Manning, Western Heritage Center, 406-256-6809, ext. 127, or kevinkm@ywhc.org.

Yellowstone County Historic Survey, 2003-2004

Consultants Maggie Weamer and Ann Kooistra-Manning conducted a photographic survey of the outlying towns and farms of Yellowstone County. This collection of photographs will soon be available for research and presentations.

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