Montana Reins In Wide Open Spaces: The Yellowstone Heritage Partnership

The Setting
The wide open spaces of Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming hold within their boundaries federally managed land, Indian reservations and a fascinating heritage. The long distances between attractions proved to be a challenge in attracting visitors. How could organizers capitalize on the area’s culture and heritage and draw some of the three million visitors who come to Yellowstone National Park each year?

What Happened Next
The Western Heritage Center took the lead in organizing a coalition of historical, arts and cultural facilities as well as humanities scholars and community representatives. Working together, the Yellowstone Partnership took several action steps:

• Developed an exhibit Our Place in the West: Places, Pasts and Images of the Yellowstone Region from 1880-1940.
• Offered a series of presentations by scholars on the history of the area.
• Published Along the Yellowstone: A Guide to Historic Sites in the Yellowstone Region to interpret the area for visitors.
• Created a series of regional cultural loop tours and additional exhibits

Results

• The Explore the Yellowstone exhibit has been in 15 communities in the three-state region and has been seen by more than 20,000 people.
• The Yellowstone Partnership has more than 40 representatives from public and private interests.
• Partners secured $200,000 in grants for sites in the partnership region.

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