Traveling While Black Across America RoadTrip: Stop #4 - Billings, MT
Us at Zimmerman Park in Billings, MT
Welcome to the last stop of our Traveling While Black Across America (Volume 1) series! A little background on this series, we decided to hop on the road to take (and document) a roadtrip from Wentzville, MO to Billings, MT.
If you’re new here, our show Traveling While Black usually has us in the Pacific Northwest or flying to international destinations, but we realized that many don’t know what middle America is like OR how safe it is for Black travelers. So, we decided it was time for us to expand our show to help those who may be wondering what it’s like to drive and stop in four cities: Kansas City, MO; Denver, CO; Cheyenne, WY; and Billings, MT. For each city will provide our typical ratings too: Drive Grade, Level of Fun, and Comfortability For Black People!
Here’s our experience in Billings, MT!
The Overview:
Billings drew us in with its history, amazing access to the outdoors, and vibrant craft beer scene. According to our research, Billings has a unique twist on the railroad industry story, with similarities to the other Rocky Mountain state cities we visited.
Just like Cheyenne (our 3rd episode), Billings' origins are tied to the railroad, specifically the Northern Pacific Railroad, which established the city in 1882.
Historical Impact of Redlining in Billings:
By that time the West had developed its own tactics for dealing with Black and immigrant populations, the railroad company divided the city with a railroad track. On the north side of the track were where white residents were able to live and on the south side of the tracks were where the Chinese, Japanese, and Black population were able to live.
Black History of Billings:
Despite the discrimination, Black pioneers like Walker Browning and his family played influential roles in the community, advocating for social mobility and helping to establish the city's only Black church.
Knowing the contributions of Black cowboys and cowgirls to Montana's history, we were excited to see how these contributions were commemorated in Billings.
Drive Grade:
Cheyenne, WY to Billings, MT
The drive from Cheyenne to Billings took about 7 hours, excluding stops. Without the windstorm we encountered driving to Cheyenne, we were able to appreciate the beauty of the landscape along the way, even with a bit of rain. The Big Sky nickname for Montana is so true, as the expansive land makes the blue sky seem even larger.
Us in Douglas, WY!
Our drive included some unique stops, starting with the world's largest Jackalope statue in Douglas, Wyoming. However, a subscriber warned us that the city might not be Black-friendly, so we didn't stay long. We also made a quick stop to Sheridan, Wyoming, we were intrigued by signs for the Black Diamond Trail, though poor service prevented us from researching further what this was all about. But it could be a cool stop! The highlight of our drive was the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana, this was a powerful and educational experience that made us appreciate the area's history. We definitely recommend a stop at this National Monument!
Here's how the drive from Cheyenne to Billings fared against our rating scale:
Quality of Views: 2/2 points - The breathtaking landscape and expansive sky were as beautiful as we imagined. We can see why it’s called Big Sky!
Roadside Amenities: 1/2 points - There were a lot of options for gas and food on the drive. We did dock a point for this ride because of the potentially unfriendly stop in Douglas, WY.
Route Simplicity: 2/2 points - Even though we took three different highways, the open road and high speed limits made the drive feel easy and freeing. It was the first time we saw a speed limit of 80 MPH!
Roadside Attractions: 2/2 points - We stopped at three places, the one that stood out the most to us was The Little Bighorn Monument. This stop alone made this drive memorable!
Quality Parking Options: 1/2 points - There was a decent amount of parking in Billings, but we had to pay each time! You all know how Anthony feels about paying for parking!
Overall, we rated the drive an 8 out of 10, making it our favorite drive of the whole road trip.
Level of Fun Rating: Billings, MT
To try and enjoy Billings, we decided to dive into the local culture. Based on our research, we explored the city's history, craft beer scene, and outdoors.
We started with the Western Heritage Center Museum, housed in the historic Parmly Billings Memorial Library building. The museum offered intriguing exhibits, including ones focused on Native American experiences in the West. After the museum, we hit the Billings Brew Trail, a self-guided tour through the historic downtown that includes breweries, distilleries, a cider mill, and a winery. Our favorite stop was the local distillery, UnDammed!
For our outdoor experience, we headed to Zimmerman Park just outside the city for a hike. The park's loop trail offered breathtaking views and was a calming experience at the end of our road trip.
Here's how Billings scored on our Level of Fun scale:
Quality of Activities: 1/2 points - The museum and brew trail were interesting, but the activities left a lot to be desired.
Demographic Applicability: 0/2 points - Billings has limited options for fun and the abundance of casinos hurt the city's appeal across different demographics. There are casinos EVERYWHERE.
Affordability: 2/2 points - One good thing about Billings is it was affordable! Plus, Montana doesn’t have a sales tax, was a bonus!
Quality of Restaurants: 1/2 points - We enjoyed a few restaurants in Billings, but there weren’t a huge selection of options. If you want to support a Black-owned restaurant while there, check out Sassy Biscuit!
Special Events: 0/2 points - Billings does not have any professional sports teams. When we were visiting a PBR even was taking place, but we did not attend.
Overall, we rated Billings a 4 out of 10 for Level of Fun.
Comfortability for Black Travelers: Billings, MT
Comfortability for Black travelers is crucial. Billings has a very low Black population percentage (less than 1%)! Plus, the city's Black history wasn't visible, which was disappointing given Montana's rich history of Black cowboys.
Here's how Billings scored on our Comfortability for Black People scale:
Amount of Other Black People Seen: 2/2 points - Even though the population is less than 1%, we saw more Black people than expected! This was a pleasant surprise.
Most Recent Black Population Numbers: 0/2 points - As we mentioned before, the Black population percentage is only 1%, so we can’t give any points here.
Prevalence of Black History: 0/2 points - Billings didn’t show a lot about their Black history. We did learn more about a Black family that was visible in the city. You can learn more about them in our episode!
Visibility of Inclusion Signs: 1/2 points - Billings didn’t have a lot of inclusion signs, but we saw a few supporting the LGBTQ community.
Our Personal Feelings of Comfort: 1/2 points - Overall, Billings felt very cold. We don’t know if that’s because of the city overall or because of the lack of diversity.
Overall, we rated Billings a 4 out of 10 for Comfortability for Black People.
Our Final Thoughts on Billings
Overall, Billings, MT fell short in terms of inclusivity and comfort for Black travelers (in our opinion). Despite this, we appreciated the opportunity to explore this part of the country and gain new perspectives.
Billings was our final stop in volume 1 of our road trip series! This trip taught us a lot about America and ourselves. We encourage everyone to take a road trip, even if it's a short one, to see the diverse beauty and experiences our country has to offer.
Thank you for joining us on this adventure from Wentzville, Missouri, to Billings, Montana. Be sure to follow us for updates on our next journey and subscribe to our blog for real-time updates and behind-the-scenes content.