Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
The Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument preserves the site of one of the most significant and sobering events in American history: the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn. Here, visitors can walk the rolling hills and open plains where Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors defended their homelands against U.S. forces led by Lt. Col. George Custer.
Key points of interest include Last Stand Hill, where headstones mark the places where Custer and his men fell, and the Indian Memorial, a circular stone monument honoring the Native warriors who fought with courage and sacrifice. Trails like the Deep Ravine Trail and the Reno-Benteen Entrenchment Trail guide visitors through the landscape, offering insight into troop movements and the intensity of the battle.
The grounds also include Custer National Cemetery, a place of quiet reflection and remembrance.
Today, the monument serves not only as a battlefield preserved in time but also as a shared place of memory, telling the story from both Native and U.S. Army perspectives. It’s a powerful destination for anyone seeking to better understand the history and conflict that marked the times.