Day 7 - Custer's Last Stand

Last night, after a beautiful sunset and a long day of travel, we called it a night. We got up early and headed to the Little Bighorn Battlefield which is a National Monument in Crow Agency, Montana about 5 minutes from our campground. "This area memorializes the U.S. Army's 7th Cavalry and the Sioux and Cheyenne in one of the Indian's last armed efforts to preserve their way of life. Here on June 25 and 26 of 1876, 263 soldiers, including Lt. Col. George A. Custer and attached personnel of the U.S. Army, died fighting several thousand Lakota, and Cheyenne warriors." This quote from the National Park Service pretty much summarizes what happened here. It is often referred to as "Custer's Last Stand."

There was a welcome movie and a ranger talk introducing the park and its history. There was a narrated auto tour of the battlefield. We took advantage of these. A walking tour of the battlefield was also available but it was too hot (92) so we skipped that.

This battle was one of many between the U.S. Government and the Indians. They called these battles the "Clash of Cultures" because the Indians being a nomadic people laid no claim to the land unlike the Europeans who were focused on land acquisition. They followed the buffalo herd because their shelter, food and clothing were dependent on these animals. As their land was lost to settlers, buffalo herds became near extinct.

Even though the Indians won the Battle of Little Bighorn, it was really their last effort to keep their culture alive. In the end the Indians were confined to reservations because the government believed that it was "cheaper to feed than to fight the Indians."

There is a quietness to this park. It might be because of the many soldiers, Indians and horses that are buried here. This park also serves a a burial ground for veterans. It also might be due to sorrow for the Indians who had such love for the land and it's wildlife but lost it all.

We left the park and went directly across the street to the Custer Battlefield Trading Post for lunch. We had our first Buffalo Burger and Indian Taco Salad on fried Indian bread. Both were delicious.

Our waitress was a hoot. We wish we could post a video of her. She is know around the area for having the ability to neigh like a horse! It was unbelievable!

We headed back to our Airstream to work on our posts and get ready for our trip tomorrow to Yellowstone. Good stop.