As the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48 states, the Yellowstone River is a national treasure. Montana State University Billings professor of geography Dr. Susan Gilbertz utilizes historic photographs to illustrate how, over time, the Yellowstone’s channels have meandered, both rejuvenating fisheries and riparian areas and causing erosion, flooding, and decreases in property values.

Using resources from the Billings Public Library Archives, library director Gavin Woltjer explores the life of Will James. Over the course of several decades, James—artist, storyteller, writer, and cattle rustler—invented a new persona for himself, evolved this persona, and used it to separate himself from his past to tell his stories and share his art.

MHS Research Center director Molly Kruckenberg and state archivist Jodie Foley discuss the evolution of KOA—Kampgrounds of America. In 1962 the thousands of Americans driving through Montana en route to the Seattle’s World Fair caught the attention of Dave Drum, a Billings resident and entrepreneur. He set up campsites on his land north of the Yellowstone River, offering hot showers, restrooms, and a store. The idea caught on, and by 1969 there were KOAs across the country serving this new generation of vacationers who wanted the experience of camping while retaining some comforts of home. Today KOA’s familiar bright yellow signs can be found all across North America.

Retired Billings teacher Marlene Saunders details the evolution of the Yellowstone Trail, an important early byway started in South Dakota in 1911 that became a significant route between the East and West Coasts. The road went through Montana, and specifically through Billings, where official Yellowstone Trail signs have been installed to mark the trail.

Fort Benton’s Overholser Historical Research Center historian Ken Robison unveils new and neglected stories of Montanans in the Great War. Robison shares tales from Montanans serving around the world, focusing on the role of Montana’s women U.S. Navy yeomen, nurses, and “Hello Girls”; Montanans in the Russian Railway Service Corps; the unknown role Charles M. Russell played in support of the war; the contributions of Montana’s ethnic citizens to World War I; and more.

Randy Schoppe, executive director of the Big Horn County Historical Museum, discusses the history of Fort Custer on the Big Horn near present-day Hardin. Operating from 1877 to 1898, Fort Custer was often hailed by military leaders as the finest cavalry fort in the world. Schoppe talks about the events leading up to the fort’s construction, notable personalities associated with the fort, its ties to Billings, and its eventual abandonment and demolition.

Chief Dull Knife College instructor Linwood Tallbull examines why certain places are significant to indigenous culture groups that have special ties to lands, and explains how they were given their traditional place names.

From prehistoric travel routes to a figure—first seen as a cross and later viewed as an angel—that has watched over the Magic City for the past sixty-one years, there’s more going on in the rimrocks than meets the eye. The Yellowstone Historical Society’s Prudence Ladd unveils five of these secrets from the past.

Listen carefully for some alternative medicine involving a chicken.

This Helena city park has at least 1,300 full-time residents.