Save the Date!
The 53rd Annual Montana History Conference, "Culture Keepers, Catalysts, and Cowboys: Exploring Billings and Eastern Montana" will be held September 24-26, 2026, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Billings.
Keynote speakers will include historian Paul Hedren, author of
Renewal units will be available for both the Thursday educator workshop and all conference sessions and tours. (Check here after July 1 for more details.) We hope you’ll consider attending!
As in past years, we will be offering travel scholarships for both teachers and college students.
About the Schedule
Thursday, September 25
Scholarship recipients will be required to attend a half-day educator workshop on Thursday led by Melissa Hibbard and focused on historical thinking skills. They will then have the opportunity to participate in a walking tour of Billings, a workshop on sugar beets in Montana, or a workshop on writing and publishing.
A welcoming reception Thursday evening at the Billings Depot offers the opportunity to listen to western folk musicians John and Joanna Lowell and see two pop-up exhibits, one on historic maps and the other on “The Montana Tapestry: People and Places from 1776 to Today.”
Friday, September 26
Whereas the Thursday educator workshop includes a combination of content and teaching strategies, Friday focuses exclusively on content, with presentations on a range of Billings and Eastern Montana history topics, from two photographers who documented the Crow to the history of 4-H and early Yellowstone River Exploration. For those willing to miss sessions, there are also several tours offered on Friday, including architectural tours of Billings, a walk through Mountainview Cemetery, and a tour of two historic cemeteries.
Saturday, September 27
Saturday morning brings more focus on content, including talks about the myth of Chinese tunnels, biographic warrior writing, ski-jumping and racing in Northeastern Montana, and more. An optional behind-the-scenes architectural tour of Billings' historic buildings closes out the conference on Saturday afternoon.
About the Scholarships
Funded by the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, the scholarships consist of full conference registration plus up to $400 in travel/expense reimbursement. All teachers and students in Montana’s colleges and universities are eligible to apply (residents of Billings and the vicinity are eligible for the conference registration scholarship but not the travel reimbursement). We will also be offering scholarships to cover the registration fee for teachers who only wish to attend the Thursday workshop.
Teacher recipients of the full scholarship must attend the entire conference, including the half-day Thursday’s Educators Workshop and the Saturday sessions (afternoon tours are optional). Student recipients must commit to attending all day Friday and Saturday but are also welcome at Thursday workshops.
Preference will be given to
- Billings area teachers
- Teachers and students from Montana tribal colleges
- Teachers from Montana's on-reservation schools
- Students from Montana community colleges and four-year universities
- Teachers from Montana's rural, under-served communities.
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. June 14, 2026. Awards will be announced on Friday, June 26, 2026. Applying for a scholarship is quick and easy. Apply online.
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