Rodeo & Western Culture

Bordered on the north by distinctive rock formations known as rimrocks, Billings was established in 1882 with the coming of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Two years later the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroads arrived and further boosted the economy. Today it is a major shipping center for cattle and other agricultural products. Interstates I-90 and 94 offer Montana's largest city access to easy travel. Billings is where Montana Territory began, and where your historical and cultural passport to the legendary west begins.

The Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, celebrates the spirit of the American West by weaving together the stories of the western experience—history and myth, art and Native culture, firearms technology and natural history—into the rich tapestry that is the West. Make your trip complete with a stop at the Center.

Buffalo and Johnson County are tucked away between the rolling plains of the Old West and the towering peaks of the Big Horn Mountains. Whether it's beautiful scenery, wide open spaces, great outdoor recreation, or getting a sense of our history through two great museums, Buffalo and Johnson County are places you'll love to visit. You'll enjoy the Western hospitality of restaurants from family fare to fine dining, in addition to shops and art galleries, plus a selection of hotels, motels, campgrounds, guest ranches and mountain lodges.

Established in 1953, the C.M. Russell Museum owns the most complete collection of Charles Russell art and personal objects in the world. The permanent collection is comprised of over 12,000 art works and objects. View one of the nation's finest collections of Western art and history in spacious, modern surroundings.