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western heritage center
February 8, 2023
You are invited to the Western Heritage Center’s annual re-opening this weekend! Admission fees are waived on both Friday, March 10th and Saturday, March 11th in celebration of their re-accreditation by the American Association of Museums (AAM), and to offer everyone the opportunity to view their exciting Spring Season of exhibits.
The Western Heritage Center (WHC) is located on 2822 Montana Avenue, and is open Tues-Sat, 10 am – 5 pm. A ground floor, ADA-accessible entrance is located on the west side of the main entry stairs. Information on admission prices, accessibility, exhibits, and upcoming programs can be found at ywhc.org or by calling the WHC at (406) 256-6809. The WHC also offers a variety of discounts and free admission for seniors, students, veterans and active duty, and those on SNAP benefits.
On display now:
Breaking Bread: Food & Community Identity – An original Western Heritage Center research exhibit, featuring historic recipes, food lore, traditions, and local artifacts that tell the story of our meals, our tables, and our search for sustenance in this challenging environment. This exhibit includes recipes for guests to take home, as well as two interactive play areas for children, a homestead-era kitchen and a WWII Victory Garden.
Montana Ghost Towns: One of the WHC’s many original traveling exhibits, Ghost Towns gives us a glimpse into Montana’s past through the photography of Denes G. Istvanffy, a Hungarian immigrant who embraced his new home and saw the tremendous beauty in these old buildings and work sites. A video and map of Montana’s ghost towns is also on display.
Yellowstone Engraved: The Art of William Henry Jackson, Thomas Moran, & Others: An exhibit curated by Montana author and collector, Lee Silliman, this display offers the guest the opportunity to view Yellowstone National Park through scenes depicted using a wide variety of lithograph techniques. In addition, numerous animal skeletons and taxidermy are on display, including a Mountain Goat and Bison head mount.
Ralston, Unfinished: This 2022 exhibit will be on display through the spring. If you have not yet seen it, please stop by if you are an art lover. J.K. Ralston’s style and historical accuracy in his Western paintings is well known, but these pieces feature primarily just the initial stages of painting the landscapes. Haunting in their ethereal beauty, these pieces will cause you to look at Ralston in a whole new way.