Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1940-08-02

us one ti1IIlS 10 ATTRACT tOuTStS
to the state through well-planned
publicity and educational programs,
but to provide attractions to hold
these visitors and prolong their stay
once they cross within the states
borders is another problem. With
this in mind the Montana highway
department has joined in a CO.
operative movement with civic
minded groups in working out
projects providing additional at
fractions for out of state visitors
and developing points of scenic,
historical and recreational value
which exist in this region.
! AS one result of this cooperative
program, a rustic log structure was
| recently completed at Billings on U. S.
highway 81 near the Midland Empire
fairgrounds east of the city to serve
as a museum building and tourist in
| formation center.
This log building conforms as closely
as possible to the old-time western
adobe.
Three Agencies Helped
/ Construction of the new museum
structure was made possible through
the cooperative efforts of the state
! highway department, the national
youth administration and the tourist
committee of the Billings Commercial
club
| 1t is erected along the highway on
a park site which has been under de-
velopment the last two years by the
way Identification project. Construc-
ton of the log building was started
year ago. All work on the building
was done by NYA labor, with mate
rails supplied by the Commercial club
| group.
This is the second such project to
I be developed in the immediate Billings
vicinity as means of not only at
/ tracing but holding the interest Of
( ago a museum building, constructed of
native stone and timber, was opened
at the Indian caves site, seven miles
southeast of Billings.
Once inhabited by early plains In
4 dams, Inscription and Ghost caves
/ have proven one of the most interest
! ing historic points in the state. During
the first season after it was developed
as a tourist attraction, an estimated
( 10000 sightseers visited the caves.
Forty acres of land on which the
Indian caves are located were pur-
| chased by the Montana highway de-
partment and set aside as summer
recreational area Other agencies CO.
operating with the highway depart
ment in developing the site were the
WPA, the NYA, Yellowstone county
and city of Billings governments, the
Billings Commercial club, the Eastern
Montana Normal school, the Montana
Society of Natural History and other
scientific groups.
| Located a few hundred yards from
the opening of Inscription cave, the
stone museum building at the site
houses exhibits of artifacts and relics
which were removed from the caves
during the two years of excavation
work by archaeological groups The
displays for the museum are being
completed this summer by NYA
workers.
registration booth, a refreshment
stand, drinking fountain, lavatories
and a caretaker's hut have been con-
structed at the caves site. A picnic
grove, with tables and benches, Is pro-
vided for visitors.
Paths, trails and rustic stone stair
ways have been constructed to make
seers. A caretaker and guide Is perma-
nently located at the caves during the
summer months
To House Exhibits
At the new museum on q. S. high
way 81 industrial exhibits and displays
of artifacts taken from the Indian
caves as well as historical relics Of the
old west, will be featured. Folders,
pamphlets and other descriptive liter
ature on points of interest in the Bill
lings area will be available for distri-
button to tourists. In addition a COM
plete tourist information service will
be maintained.
One Of the principal exhibits to be
housed in the museum building will be
a display sponsored by the Great
Western Sugar Co. This exhibit will
be designed to give the visitor an in
sight into the Industrial and agricul-
tural phases of beet sugar production
in the Midland Empire and will stress
the importance of increasing the con-
sumption and production Of domestic
produced sugar.
The highway museum Is located
along one of the heaviest travelled
thoroughfares of this section. Gravel
surfaced driveways and parking areas
are provided to keep the building open
during each day and evening through
out the tourist season.
Officials in charge Of the project
reported the Billings museum is the
first to be constructed in the state
under a plan fostered by the Montana
highway department to construct a
string Of similar structures across the
state for the convenience Of tourists.
This means that the development Of
the museum site here will be watched
with interest by other state communi-
ties which are striving to attract and