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Custer's Last Stand
Photo: Durwood Brandon, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument preserves the site of the June 25 and 26, 1876, Battle of the Little Bighorn, near Crow Agency, Montana, in the United States. It also serves as a memorial to those who fought in the battle: George Armstrong Custer's 7th Cavalry and a combined Lakota-Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho force. Custer National Cemetery, on the battlefield, is part of the national monument. The site of the connected military action led by Marcus Reno and Frederick Benteen is also part of the National Monument, but is about 3 miles (4.83 km) southeast of the main site.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Here is where 41 Army soldiers, including Custer, dug in as they were overcome by Indian forces. There are a variety of memorial structures, including the 7th Cavalry Memorial and the Indian Memorial.
The visitor center is a temporary structure, beside a new building that is expected to open in 2026.
Walk along the graves of about 5,000 American veterans, including women and children from isolated frontier posts, Indian scouts, and Medal of Honor recipients.
Reenactment on a site that was part of the actual battle. The unfolding of the war and the battle is largely told from Native American perspectives, by members of the tribes that participated in the conflict. The show features impressive displays of horseback riding by cavalry reenactors. Arrive early, bleacher seating gets crowded. Prepare for any weather. There's a few food and crafts vendors, but options are limited.
Major Marcus Reno's detachment retreated to this hill after attempting to attack an Indian encampment across the river, and were surrounded here until the next day. From this vantage point, you can piece together the early stages of the battle.