By Heather Schindler
about.com
A Historic Showdown
Many people believe
that the last time a major battle was fought on American soil was during
the Civil War. However, only a few years later, the western part of the
United States was home to some of the fiercest fighting the country had
ever seen as the Army fought Native American tribes for control of the
land. While all the clashes in what is now known as the Indian Wars were
extremely intense, the Battle of Little Bighorn has gone down in
history as the one that changed America forever.
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In 1862,
President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act, which allowed people
to cheaply purchase large plots of land to start their own farms. The
country was immediately struck by land fever, and tens of thousands of
people began pouring west with the hope of creating a better life. There
was one big problem, though: much of the land the government told
people they could settle had been home to Native Americans for hundreds
of years.
Desperate to make as much land as possible available for
settlement, the government created reservations and attempted to force
all Native Americans to live on them, often by using military force.
Many of them, especially members of the fearsome Sioux and Cheyenne
tribes, refused to give up the independent lives they led as hunters on
the Great Plains. A medicine man named Sitting Bull became the voice of
their movement, and as reservation life became increasingly difficult,
thousands of people joined him. Nervous about the size of Sitting Bull’s
following, the government sent Lieutenant Colonel George Custer and his regiment, the 7th Cavalry, to round them up and send them to a reservation once and for all.
On June 24th, 1876, Custer tracked Sitting Bull's group to a camp along the Little Bighorn River in what is now Montana,
and quickly learned that the settlement contained 10,000 people to his
268. Instead of waiting for reinforcements, though, Custer went ahead
with the attack, believing that the Native Americans would run at the
first sign of white men with guns. He was sorely mistaken, as over the
next two days he and every one of his men were killed in the brutal,
bloody fighting.
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The Native Americans’ victory, however, was
short-lived. As more and more American settlers stampeded west, they
almost completely wiped out the Buffalo, which the tribespeople had
relied on for everything from food to shelter to fire. No longer able to
maintain their way life without the animal’s resources, they all moved
to the reservation within six months of the battle. Their victory was
seen as symbolic, though, as it sent a message that Native Americans
were a strong, united group who would not fade quietly into the
background but would continue to fight for what they deserved.
Planning Time
The
site where the battle took place is worth a visit not only for its
history, but also for the chance to get up close and personal with
stunning landscapes and rich Native American culture. Although the
surrounding area is barely more developed than it was in 1876, the
battlefield is extremely easy to reach, as it is only an hour drive from
Billings, Montana’s largest city. For help with all your trip planning needs, head over to the website
run by the National Park Service for the battlefield, which is
classified as a National Monument. A great way to get started is to
check out a series of short video clips, which provide a quick and easy overview of the battle and the present-day site. The Park Service also runs a Facebook page
for the battlefield, which is a treasure trove of historical fun facts
and photos of the many adorable animals who call the area home.
Nothing Little About This Bighorn
The
first stop on any visit to the battlefield is the Visitor’s Center,
which shows a 25-minute orientation video each hour and also boasts a
museum and gift shop. Afterward, you can make the five-minute trek to
the top of Last Stand Hill, which is where the fiercest fighting took
place and where Custer died. On top of the hill sits a monument to
Custer and his men, many of whom are buried under the hill itself, and
also offers stunning views of the entire battlefield, which is dotted by
gravestones marking exactly where each U.S. soldier fell. From there,
head right down the hill to the Indian Memorial, a recently-completed sculpture whose design was chosen through a national competition.
Seeing
the battlefield is one thing, but in order to truly experience the
events of those fateful days in June you need to take a battlefield
tour. If you’re pressed for time or just like to go at your own pace,
you can choose from three different self-guided tours. The easiest and
cheapest option is to use your car to follow signs posted along the road
that explain what happened at particular spots and also provide a
number you can dial to access the tour on your cell phone. The
alternative is to purchase a CD from the Visitor’s Center, which you can
listen to as you drive.
If you’d prefer to sit back and let someone else do all the work, consider taking an Apsaalooke Tour,
an hour long bus tour of the battlefield given by a Native American
guide. If you want a top-notch guided tour but like the comfort of your
own vehicle, consider taking a full-day tour
given by a Native American guide who accompanies you in your car. The
most interesting (and authentic!) way to experience the battlefield,
though, is by touring it on horseback. No experience will get you closer to the actual battle than the annual reenactment, which is being held this year on June 24th through 26th, the 140th anniversary of the battle.
The Battle is Only the Beginning
The
battlefield sits within land belonging to the Crow tribe, making it a
great place to try Native American foods and pick up unique crafts. The
best way to check both off of your bucket list is to visit the Custer Battlefield Trading Post & Cafe,
which serves local specialties like Indian Tacos and Fry Bread, and
carries souvenirs ranging from inexpensive trinkets to handcrafted
artisanal pieces.
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If you want to learn more about the events leading up to the battle, you can take a tour of the Deer Medicine Rocks,
which are located about 45 minutes away. It was at this massive,
oddly-shaped rock formation that Sitting Bull had a vision that his
people would win at Little Bighorn, which he recorded through carvings
in the rock that can still be seen today.
Southern Montana is known for its breathtaking canyons, so no trip to Little Bighorn is complete without a visit to Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.
Take time to marvel at the rocky cliffs dramatically rising from the
clear blue waters of the Bighorn River. The unspoiled waterways and
forests are perfect for recreational activities from
boating to fishing to hiking. History buffs and outdoor enthusiasts
will be their element, as the area is home to no less than four Historic ranches.
