‘This Land is Your Land: Western Landscapes’ at Heritage Center

While you are in Billings, treat yourself to the new Dale and Mary Hawkins Western Art Collection exhibit at the Western Heritage Center, 2822 Montana Avenue downtown.

“This Land is Your Land: Western Landscapes” shares the beauty of the West, featuring the artistry of Clyde Aspevig, Phillip Goodwin, Joseph Henry Sharp, Ben Steele, Hans Kleiber, Oscar Borg, and Charles Partridge Adam.

Illustrating the West is an artistic vision of the American West through line drawings, etchings, and lithographs from Nick Eggenhofer, J.K. Ralston, William Standing, Ben Steele, Hans Kleiber and Ned Jacob.

“Dale and Mary Hawkins were sincere, warm-hearted patrons of the arts. When Mary passed away last year, most of their collection came to the Western Heritage Center,” said Western Heritage Center Executive Director Julie Dial.

“Mary was also instrumental in getting the J.K. Ralston cabin moved from the Rocky Mountain College campus to the Western Heritage Center,” said Dial.

The Western Heritage Center is open Tuesdays - Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. It is closed Sundays, Mondays and Holidays. Admission is free to members, and for non members it is $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors, $1 for children under 12). Call the center at (406) 256-6809

Hoof-it with a Historian: Swords Park

On Wednesday, June 30, trek across and celebrate Billings’ magnificent Rimrocks with a sunrise stroll and conversation along the east end of Swords Park with Kevin Kooistra-Manning, community historian of the Western Heritage Center.

Enjoy one of Billings’ most visible parklands, just east of the airport, learning the deep history of the region, including its use as a Crow fasting site and cemetery, the site of Yellowstone Kelly’s grave, and in more recent years, a popular location for tourist visits. This tour is designed to interest both long-time Billings residents and visitors alike.

The tour includes a one-hour guided walking tour and a pass to the Western Heritage Center. Please call ahead for reservations at 406-256-6809. The tour will begin at 6:30 a.m. Participants should meet at Swords Park parking lot, off Airport Road, across from Rimtop Drive.

Tickets are available at the Western Heritage Center, 2822 Montana Avenue, at $10 for adults, $5 for students, children under age 12 free. Direct questions to 406-256-6809 or visit ywhc.org.