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

Steamboat City on the River

Coulson Bypassed by Railroad

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020

1. Steamboat City on the River Marker

Captions: (lower left) View of Coulson alongside the Yellowstone River in 1882.; (bottom center) The first structures of Billings are on the left. Coulson is on the far right. 1882.; (upper right) The Headquarters Saloon in Coulson, 1882.

Inscription. The town of Coulson was founded along the north bank of the Yellowstone River in 1877. Residents named the community after the Coulson Steamboat Packet Company, hoping to prosper from expected steamboat traffic. The town hosted a post office, a sawmill, a two story hotel, two stores, a couple saloons, and several homes.
In 1882, the hundred or so Coulson residents were surprised and dismayed to learn the Northern Pacific Railway would bypass their town in favor of establishing Billings, just a mile away. Coulson lost its post office as soon as the railroad tracks arrived in August, 1882. As Billings grew, Coulson struggled to stay relevant and the river town soon withered away. Coulson Cemetery, also known as Boothill Cemetery, is all that remains of the early frontier settlement.

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

Location. 45° 47.048′ N, 108° 29.884′ W. Marker is in Billings, Montana, in Yellowstone County. It is in the South Side. Marker can be reached from Montana Avenue (Business Interstate 90) near North 23rd Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker is found on the fence paralleling the railroad tracks. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2300 Montana Avenue, Billings MT 59101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Northern Cheyenne Tribe (here, next to this marker); How Billings Got Its News (here, next to this marker); The Yellowstone River (here, next to this marker); Billings: The Father and the Son (here, next to this marker); Billings' Chinatown (a few steps from this marker); Battle of the Little Bighorn (a few steps from this marker); The Fight or Flight of the Nez Perce (within shouting distance of this marker); Children of the Large-Beaked Bird (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. Steamboat City on the River Marker

The marker is located on the fence line.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 148 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 8, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.