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

Billings' Humble Beginnings

It All Started with the Railroad

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020

1. Billings' Humble Beginnings Marker

Captions: (center left) Trackside view of the Headquarters Hotel, 1883; (lower left) A trackside view of Billings' second depot constructed on North Broadway and Montana Avenue.; (lower center) Looking on North Broadway, 1940. Although moved to its current location in 1909, North Broadway remained a key business and community center in Billings due to the first two depot locations.; (lower right) Postcard of the third and current depot.

Inscription. Billings was founded as a railroad town in 1882. The first passenger depot was the Headquarters Hotel, located on what was then North 28th and Montana Ave. It served as the stopping point for passengers and freight. In 1891, the Headquarters Hotel burned down and the town quickly erected a second depot at the same location.
Mrs. E.B. Camp, the Mayor's wife, suggested renaming North 28th Street to North Broadway in the late 1880s to make the street sound more fitting of a depot location. The construction of the depots on North Broadway spurred civic and business development on the north side of the tracks that still continues today. By 1907, Billings was growing quickly and needed a larger depot to handle the increase in freight and passengers. They chose the lot between North 24th and 25th on Montana Avenue and the "Union Depot" was completed in 1909. The beautiful structure remains today and continues to serve the Billings community as a popular non-profit special events venue.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 45° 47.074′ N, 108° 29.848′ W. Marker is in Billings, Montana, in Yellowstone County. It is in North Park. Marker is on Montana Avenue

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(Business Interstate 90) near North 22nd Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2200 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. Montana's 70 Million Year Old Beach (here, next to this marker); How the Railroad Shaped Our Town (here, next to this marker); Explorer, Guide, and Hunter (a few steps from this marker); Children of the Large-Beaked Bird (within shouting distance of this marker); The Fight or Flight of the Nez Perce (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of the Little Bighorn (within shouting distance of this marker); Billings' Chinatown (within shouting distance of this marker); The Purity Bread Company (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Billings.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020

2. Billings' Humble Beginnings Marker

This marker is the first panel down the fence line.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 5, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 119 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 5, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.