By Evelyn Pyburn

What if you had a brand new car but no place to drive it?

In the early 1900s that was exactly the dilemma faced by owners of the newfangled automobile. Just as new as the automobile, was the idea of roads. Early on, entrepreneurs across the country recognized the potential roads could bring to tourism; and, citizens – not governments — built the Yellowstone Trail – the first transcontinental automobile highway through the upper tier states.

Although now lost to history, the Yellowstone Trail is being revived by the Yellowstone Historical Society under the leadership of Renee Christiansen, who was recently presented with the Annual Eugene T. Carroll Individual Achievement Award in recognition of her ten years as president of the Yellowstone Historical Society and her dedicated interest in preserving the community’s history.

Signs designating the former route of the Yellowstone Trail can be seen in Billings, throughout Yellowstone County, and across the state, thanks to the efforts of members of the Yellowstone Historical Society, as well as other historian buffs across Montana, and along the entire 2,445 miles of the route that extends from Plymouth, Massachusetts, through Montana to Yellowstone National Park, to Seattle, Washington. That the trail would go to Yellowstone National Park was a top priority in its development because that was recognized as a top destination for tourists, said Christiansen, who has long been a strong advocate for the industry.

As the trail winds its way through the county, some of the old roadway is visible, but much of it has been incorporated into main highways and arterials. Travelers may notice Yellowstone Trail Signs along Hwy. 312 to Bench Boulevard in the Heights, and along First Avenue North in downtown Billings, as it jogs onto First Avenue South across the railroad tracks.

Besides signs being placed along the route, the Yellowstone Historical Society and similar organizations who are part of the Yellowstone Trails Association are putting together booklets that will tell its story and highlight historical sites along each segment to inform and encourage tourists. The association also publishes a magazine to which historians submit articles.

Christiansen said she became intrigued with local history as she and her husband, Lee, launched their business, Montana Fun Adventure Tours, in 1996. As they pulled clients into Montana from across the country and around the world, they quickly discovered there was great interest in the history of the area. “People were always surprised to discover that there is so much history,” said Christiansen.

Christiansen discovered and was quickly drawn to the activities of the Yellowstone Historical Society. Besides putting Yellowstone Trail back on the map, so to speak, members have placed other signage designating other historical sites in the area. Christiansen is proud of the line-up of outstanding speakers that Yellowstone Historical Society has hosted over the years. They also present Histories Mysteries with Prudy Ladd.  And, Christiansen was instrumental in initiating the lighting of the community Christmas tree in Community Park in downtown Billings.