Carter County Museum partners with Billings museum to share 'Shots Felt 'Round Montana'

The Western Heritage Center in Billings, in partnership with Carter County Museum and Humanities Montana, recently opened the exhibit "Shots Felt 'Round Montana: Maurice Hilleman and the Montana origins of the fight against pandemics." The project centers around "Shots Felt 'Round the World," the traveling exhibit created by Carter County Museum, which is touring the region over the coming years to share this incredible story from southeastern Montana history.

The CCM team designed and produced the exhibition using collections donated to the Museum of the Rockies by the Hilleman family, along with Montana newspaper stories that describe contemporary accounts of infectious disease throughout state history. It features the life of Dr. Hilleman, who grew up in poverty in Miles City and who is credited with saving millions of children from communicable diseases. The project invites visitors to discover the process of scientific inquiry and vaccine development through the inspiring life of Dr. Hilleman, who laid the foundation for the modern fight against pandemic disease. Dr. Hilleman is credited with developing many major vaccinations, including those against mumps, Hepatitis B, and influenza.

"In addition to telling a very important and relevant story, this traveling exhibit also highlights the superb work that the Carter County Museum team is doing," Kevin Kooistra, Executive Director of the WHC, comments, "We are very lucky that very small communities like Ekalaka are creating exceptional education and exploration experiences, ranging from paleontology to geology to historical. This exhibit is a new story for most guests, and certainly gives a new perspective on Montana history."

The exhibit was first displayed in Ekalaka in 2021, and is touring through Montana thanks to a SHARPS project grant from Humanities Montana. It will be on display at the Western Heritage Center from May 26 – August 27. In addition, the joint project will include a free film screening of the documentary, "HILLEMAN: A Perilous Quest to Save the World's Children," with a panel discussion to follow, on Thursday, Aug. 4.

Sabre Moore, Executive Director of the Carter County Museum, states, "We are so delighted to work with the Western Heritage Center to share this incredible story. Dr. Hilleman's inspiring achievements add so much to our history as a region and state, and we want everyone to learn more about his work and its ongoing impact, which may save up to 8 million people each year. We also encourage guests in Billings to consider coming to Ekalaka soon to see us in person."

The WHC is located on 2822 Montana Avenue in Billings, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with admission fees of $5 or less. Information on exhibits, resources, and upcoming programs can be found at ywhc.org or by calling the WHC at (406) 256-6809.