Billings in Yellowstone County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

The Billings Brewery - Opened in 1899

Historic Montana Avenue

By Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020

1. The Billings Brewery - Opened in 1899 Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Touted as "The Beer that Made Milwaukee Jealous." In 1910, an electro sign was installed atop the brewery, becoming a distinguishing feature of the company and a city landmark. The flashing sign "Drink Old Fashion Beer" was made up of 920 white and yellow light bulbs that depicted beer flowing from a tilted bottle into an empty glass. Soda production replace beer during Prohibition. Beer began to flow once more in 1933, but the brewery closed its doors in 1951. The building, along with distinctive sign, was torn down in 1959.

Erected by Downtown Billings Starts Here. (Marker Number 5.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.

Location. 45° 47.039′ N, 108° 29.968′ W. Marker is in Billings, Montana, in Yellowstone County. Marker can be reached from Montana Avenue (Business Interstate 90) near North 23rd Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2305 Montana Avenue, Billings MT 59101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Flood of 1937 (here, next to this marker); Northern Pacific Depot "Union Station"

By Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020

2. The Billings Brewery - Opened in 1899 Marker

Northern Pacific Depot in the background

(a few steps from this marker); Teddy Roosevelt Visits the Depot - 1918 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Northern Pacific Depot - 1909 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Yellowstone Garage - 1920 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Sawyer Stores - 1928 (within shouting distance of this marker); Sawyer Stores (within shouting distance of this marker); Billings Townsite Historic District (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Billings.

More about this marker. Markers erected by Downtown Billings Starts Here are secure to streetlight poles and are only visible from the sidewalk provided they are not covered by a flower pot.

Also see . . . Retrospective: Billings Brewing Company. Billings Gazette entry:
The Billings Brewing Company was Billings' first brewery, founded in 1884 following the closure of the Ash & Boots Brewery in nearby Coulson. Check out these historic photos of the brewery. (Submitted on February 3, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Additional keywords. beer

Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 3, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 47 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 3, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.