Home - Western Heritage Center
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Archived: 2026-04-23 15:28
Home - Western Heritage Center
Home - Western Heritage Center
Tue - Sat:
10am - 5pm
Sun, Mon, Holidays:
Closed
2822 Montana Avenue
Billings, MT 59101
406-256-6809
High Noon Lecture Series
Join us each third Thursday at High Noon for a series of in-depth historical lectures from several experts in the field. This year’s series will begin in March of 2024.
Learn More
Telling Stories.
Telling the stories of the peoples of the Yellowstone River Valley and the Northern Plains.
Current Exhibits
Photo courtesy of WHC Archives
Telling Stories.
Telling the stories of the peoples of the Yellowstone River Valley and the Northern Plains.
Current Exhibits
Photo courtesy of WHC Archives
April FUNdraising Fridays!
Join us each Friday in April for a fun activities!
Learn More!
Regular Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10am – 5pm.
We are pleased to share that the Western Heritage Center has been awarded accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM).
Accreditation is the highest national recognition of a museum’s commitment to public service, professional standards, and excellence in education.
Check us out on
Facebook
!
Staff are available Monday – Friday, 10am – 5pm.
Please call 406-256-6809 x134 or
email staff
for information.
We are funded in part by coal severance taxes paid based upon coal mined in Montana and deposited in Montana’s cultural and aesthetic projects trust fund.
The Western Heritage Center proudly participates in the Museums for All and BlueStar Museums initiatives.
Kevin Kooistra, 2024
Kevin Kooistra, beloved community historian and Executive Director of the Western Heritage Center, passed away in December 2024. Kevin had an unmatched passion for discovering, preserving, and sharing Montana and Billings history. In his almost 30 years of service at the museum, he worked enthusiastically to share the history of this wonderful city with the community in every way possible.
Whether it was through walking tours, public programs, or spending a few hours with a museum guest to find family photos in the archives, he was happy to lend his knowledge however he could. He was especially interested in sharing the forgotten stories of great Montana figures, like women’s rights activist Hazel Hunkins, and bringing to light their importance to the state.
For Kevin, the history of the city was such a significant part of his life that he even adopted and named a kitten he found behind the museum Julia Parmly, in honor of the wife of Frederick Billings, the namesake of the town.
Kevin was a great community leader and participated in associations even beyond Billings itself, such as the Extreme History Project of Bozeman, the Southeastern Tourism Board, the Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board, and the Museums Association of Montana. He touched the lives of many and will be dearly missed by all. Kevin’s family is deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support from the people of Billings and across Montana. A celebration of life for Kevin will be announced at a later date.
-Emily and Lilly Kooistra-Manning-
The Board of Directors and staff could not have written a better statement. Kevin was one of the most knowledgeable and amiable men a person could have known. His many friends and colleagues are a testament to his lifelong love of learning and sharing of his passion. Finding a replacement for this generous, learned, and vibrant man will be difficult for he is truly one of a kind. We were blessed to have him in our midst.
Plan a Trip
Visit WHC
Learn More
Learn More
Join In
Membership
Learn More
Learn More
Who We Are
Our History
Learn More
Learn More
Telling Stories
Featured Exhibitions
View More
Hazel Hunkins Hallinan, Billings Suffragist
Details
Details
Billings Historic Landmarks
Details
Details
Student Contest
Details
Details
Stay Up To Date
News & Events
Calendar
Explore WHC
Take a Tour
Planning a visit to WHC? We offer both guided and self-guided tours of the museum. Get all of the details at the link below.
Visit Us
Thank you to our sponsors
Visit Sponsor Site
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Visit Sponsor Site
Home - Western Heritage Center
Tue - Sat:
10am - 5pm
Sun, Mon, Holidays:
Closed
2822 Montana Avenue
Billings, MT 59101
406-256-6809
High Noon Lecture Series
Join us each third Thursday at High Noon for a series of in-depth historical lectures from several experts in the field. This year’s series will begin in March of 2024.
Learn More
Telling Stories.
Telling the stories of the peoples of the Yellowstone River Valley and the Northern Plains.
Current Exhibits
Photo courtesy of WHC Archives
Telling Stories.
Telling the stories of the peoples of the Yellowstone River Valley and the Northern Plains.
Current Exhibits
Photo courtesy of WHC Archives
April FUNdraising Fridays!
Join us each Friday in April for a fun activities!
Learn More!
Regular Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10am – 5pm.
We are pleased to share that the Western Heritage Center has been awarded accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM).
Accreditation is the highest national recognition of a museum’s commitment to public service, professional standards, and excellence in education.
Check us out on
!
Staff are available Monday – Friday, 10am – 5pm.
Please call 406-256-6809 x134 or
email staff
for information.
We are funded in part by coal severance taxes paid based upon coal mined in Montana and deposited in Montana’s cultural and aesthetic projects trust fund.
The Western Heritage Center proudly participates in the Museums for All and BlueStar Museums initiatives.
Kevin Kooistra, 2024
Kevin Kooistra, beloved community historian and Executive Director of the Western Heritage Center, passed away in December 2024. Kevin had an unmatched passion for discovering, preserving, and sharing Montana and Billings history. In his almost 30 years of service at the museum, he worked enthusiastically to share the history of this wonderful city with the community in every way possible.
Whether it was through walking tours, public programs, or spending a few hours with a museum guest to find family photos in the archives, he was happy to lend his knowledge however he could. He was especially interested in sharing the forgotten stories of great Montana figures, like women’s rights activist Hazel Hunkins, and bringing to light their importance to the state.
For Kevin, the history of the city was such a significant part of his life that he even adopted and named a kitten he found behind the museum Julia Parmly, in honor of the wife of Frederick Billings, the namesake of the town.
Kevin was a great community leader and participated in associations even beyond Billings itself, such as the Extreme History Project of Bozeman, the Southeastern Tourism Board, the Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board, and the Museums Association of Montana. He touched the lives of many and will be dearly missed by all. Kevin’s family is deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support from the people of Billings and across Montana. A celebration of life for Kevin will be announced at a later date.
-Emily and Lilly Kooistra-Manning-
The Board of Directors and staff could not have written a better statement. Kevin was one of the most knowledgeable and amiable men a person could have known. His many friends and colleagues are a testament to his lifelong love of learning and sharing of his passion. Finding a replacement for this generous, learned, and vibrant man will be difficult for he is truly one of a kind. We were blessed to have him in our midst.
Plan a Trip
Visit WHC
Learn More
Learn More
Join In
Membership
Learn More
Learn More
Who We Are
Our History
Learn More
Learn More
Telling Stories
Featured Exhibitions
View More
Hazel Hunkins Hallinan, Billings Suffragist
Details
Details
Billings Historic Landmarks
Details
Details
Student Contest
Details
Details
Stay Up To Date
News & Events
Calendar
Explore WHC
Take a Tour
Planning a visit to WHC? We offer both guided and self-guided tours of the museum. Get all of the details at the link below.
Visit Us
Thank you to our sponsors
Visit Sponsor Site
Visit Sponsor Site
Visit Sponsor Site
Visit Sponsor Site
Visit Sponsor Site
Visit Sponsor Site
Visit Sponsor Site
Visit Sponsor Site
Visit Sponsor Site
Visit Sponsor Site
Visit Sponsor Site
Visit Sponsor Site
Visit Sponsor Site
Visit Sponsor Site
Visit Sponsor Site
Visit Sponsor Site
Visit Sponsor Site
Visit Sponsor Site