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

Explorer, Guide, and Hunter

Yellowstone Kelly

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020

1. Explorer, Guide, and Hunter Marker

Captions: (bottom left)On June 26, 1929, a horse drawn wagon led by military colors and a riderless horse carried Yellowstone Kelly's casket to his final resting place overlooking the Yellowstone River Valley. A military guard with veterans of the Civil War, Indian Wars, Spanish-American war, and WWI attended the funeral.; (bottom center) Portrait of Luther Sage "Yellowstone" Kelly while he was a hunter and scout in the Northern High Plains. c. 1870s.; (bottom right) Yellowstone Kelly's hand-drawn map of the region from 1878.

Inscription. Born in 1849 in Geneva, New York, Luther Sage "Yellowstone Kelly was a trapper, hunter, and guide in Montana during the 1860s and 1870s. He also served as a military scout and hunter during the United States' campaign against the Indian tribes of the Northern Plains.
Always a restless spirit, Kelly accompanied military and scientific expeditions to Alaska and served as a Captain during the Philippine-American Insurrection. He also worked as the Indian Agent for the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona. A friend of Teddy Roosevelt. Kelly was included in Roosevelt's "Tennis Cabinet." the president's informal sportsmen group.
Kelly asked to be buried in Montana, the site of his greatest adventures. He died on December 17, 1928 and was buried in Billings with full military honors in June, 1929. Yellowstone Kelly's grave and interpretive site are located in a stunning setting overlooking Billings in Swords Rimrock Park, east of the airport.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Wars, US Indian.

Location. 45° 47.065′ N, 108° 29.858′ W. Marker is in Billings, Montana, in Yellowstone County. It is in North Park. Marker is on Montana Avenue (Business Interstate 90) near North 22nd Street, on

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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. Children of the Large-Beaked Bird (a few steps from this marker); How the Railroad Shaped Our Town (a few steps from this marker); Billings' Humble Beginnings (a few steps from this marker); The Fight or Flight of the Nez Perce (a few steps from this marker); Montana's 70 Million Year Old Beach (a few steps from this marker); Battle of the Little Bighorn (within shouting distance of this marker); Billings' Chinatown (within shouting distance of this marker); Northern Cheyenne Tribe (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. Explorer, Guide, and Hunter Marker

This marker is the third panel down the fence line.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 6, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 100 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 6, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.