The day dawned a sunny bright warm day and once again we headed out to see the local sights! We headed east out of Billings and
about 60 miles down Interstate -90 we turned into the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Montana.Our first stop was in the visitor center. An announcement was made that in a few minutes there would be a Ranger Talk on the plaza just outside the building. The Ranger told the story of the Battle of Little Bighorn. He was a fantastic story teller! He really made the story come to life.
The battle of Little Bighorn was a clash of cultures!!
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument memorializes one of the last armed efforts of the Northern Plains Indians to preserve their ancestral way of life. Here in the valley of the Little Bighorn River on two hot days in June, 1876, more than 260 soldiers and attached personnel of the U.S. Army
met defeat and death at the hands of several thousand Lakota and Cheyenne warriors. Among the dead were Lt. Col.
George Armstrong Custer and every member of his immediate command. Although the Indians won the battle, they subsequently lost the war against the military efforts to end their independent way of life.The top photo is of Last Stand Hill, where Custer and his men died. There are markers through out the area to mark where men of the 7th Calvary died.
From the second photo you can see the Little Bighorn River off in the distance where the Indians camped prior to the battle.
The third photo is just under the memorial at the top of Last Stand Hill and tells about the memorial.
The bottom photo is from the Indian Memorial that is a short walk from Last Stand Hill.
It wasn't until 1999 that red markers were placed here to honor the Indians that also lost their lives in the Battle. The remains of the Indians had been removed after the battle and taken back to the Indian grounds for burial.
The Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument was established on January 29, 1879 by the Secretary of War. It was first preserved as a U.S. National Cemetery to protect the graves of the 7th Calvary troopers buried there. It was named Custer National Cemetery. The National Monument covers 765 acres of land.
In 1877 Lt. Col George Armstrong Custer was re- interred at West Point Cemetery.
On March 22, 1946, the site was re designated: Custer Battlefield National Monument.
On October 15, 1966, the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
December 10, 1991, the site was renamed Little Bighorn National Monument by a law signed by President George H.W. Bush.
It was a very interesting place to visit. I highly recommend this as a place to visit, and if you do, please do not miss the Ranger talk!!!!
That is all for this installment.
Candy and Johnny
