Photos courtsey of Western Heritage Center
December at the Western Heritage Center
Step into the past and explore the rich stories of the Yellowstone River Valley at the Western Heritage Center’s 2025 exhibitions. These final weeks of the season are the last chance to experience the powerful stories of Montanans with disabilities, the remarkable creativity of artist Cliff Potts, and the captivating photographs of Joseph Henry Sharp. Each exhibit opens a window into the people and moments that shaped Montana’s history, and there are only two weeks left to see them before the museum closes for the winter.
The season ends December 20, 2025, so now’s the time to stop in, catch the newest exhibitions, and enjoy the warmth of this downtown museum before doors reopen in March 2026.
There’s also a special reason to visit next week. The Western Heritage Center is hosting its Holiday Playapalooza on December 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a free family day filled with games, snacks, crafts, and a visit from Santa. It’s an easy way to make a festive memory while exploring the exhibits before they wrap up for the year.
The Western Heritage Center is a regional museum known for its collections, exhibits, and programs that share the story of life in the Yellowstone River Valley. Its home in the former Parmly Billings Memorial Library, a Richardson Romanesque landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, adds even more character to each visit. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it was recently awarded accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition for outstanding public service, professional standards, and educational excellence.
Follow along on Facebook for updates and a look at what’s coming next in 2026.
December 2025 Events
Galleries Open:
Tuesday – Saturday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Featured Exhibitions:
- Equally Different
- CapAble Montanans
- Works of Cliff Poots
- Finding Sharp: A Collections Story
Current Ongoing Exhibits
Equally Different: Discovering the History of Disabilities in Montana
March 2025—December 2025 (West Gallery)
Following national trends of institutionalization and separation, the State of Montana began offering specialized education for the deaf, blind, and “feeble-minded” at the State School at Boulder. It supported the opening of the Warm Springs Infirmary & Invalid Hospital (now the Montana State Hospital).
But while these institutions attempted to help Montanans with certain disabilities, local efforts took a different approach. Starting with the St. Vincent Orthopedic Hospital and Dr. Louis Allard, programs in Billings led the nation in services and integration. Then, as today, the history of people living with disabilities is about civil and human rights.
As federal legislation, such as the Education of All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, and ADA Amendments Act of 2008, provided significant legal achievements for prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities, many programs in Billings and Montana were working to accomplish these feats as early as the 1940s.
CapAble Montanans: Contemporary Voices from Communities with Disabilities.
August 12 - December 2025 (Community Gallery)
In 2025, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) turns 35, but how often do we listen to those the Act is intended to help? Using first-person interviews, explore the experiences, perspectives, philosophies, and future expectations of those living with disabilities within our Montana communities. The exhibit will also explore advances in accessibility and the impact on today’s capable Montanans.
The Works of Cliff Potts
September 9, 2025 - December 2025 (Hawkins Gallery)
Cliff Potts was raised near the small town of Custer, Montana. At fifteen, he contracted polio and nearly died. He lost the use of his arms and legs and spent many months in an iron lung. But Cliff's artistic talents never died. Using a tongue-controlled electric "golden arm" to manipulate his own left arm, Cliff produced original artwork in watercolor, oil, pen and ink, watercolors, as well as creating limited edition prints and cards. Many of Cliff's drawings and paintings reflected his rural Montana heritage and his spiritual reverence. His body of work has made him one of the most well-known artists of the region.
Finding Sharp: A Collections Story
July 12 - December 23, 2025 (East Gallery)
Between 1899 and 1910, famed Western artist Joseph Henry Sharp spent his fall and winter months on the Crow Reservation in southeastern Montana. Here, he developed thousands of photographs to use as references for his paintings. Sharp used his camera to lay the groundwork for his painterly compositions, actively posing for his subjects and himself to capture magnetic portraits and scenes from everyday life. The collection of 25 images highlights his skill behind the lens.
Stay Updated
Looking for new exhibits? Check out their Facebook page for updates: Western Heritage Center on Facebook
The Western Heritage Center is located at 2822 Montana Avenue, Billings, Montana 59101, and is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10 AM – 5 PM.
