Montana was the site of key battles in the 1870s that shaped both the state and the country as we know it today. These battlefields have been preserved so that generations to come have the opportunity to learn about the battles that took place here and reflect on their legacy. Here are four Montana battlefields you can visit across the state.
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Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
Known as the Battle of the Greasy Grass to many Plains Indians, the Battle of Little Bighorn was a pivotal battle that involved the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes and the 7th Cavalry of the U.S. Army along with their Crow and Arikara scouts. This battle, which took place on the present-day Crow Reservation in southeastern Montana, was the most significant action of the Great Sioux War of 1876, and resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Native Americans. Today, you can visit the grounds of the battle, where there are memorials for the Indigenous warriors and American troops who lost their lives there.
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Big Hole National Battlefield
Located west of Wisdom, Montana, the Big Hole National Battlefield commemorates a significant battle between the Nez Perce and the U.S. Army that took place in August 1877, during the Nez Perce Flight of 1877 in which the tribe traveled more than 1,170 miles to flee their homelands and attempt to reach Canada. At Big Hole, a surprise attack from the U.S. resulted in heavy casualties among the Nez Perce, and the grounds serve as a site of reflection to honor those who were lost. Today, the site of the battle features a visitor center that helps tell the story of the conflict, as well as ranger tours that take you in the footsteps of history as you walk through the surrounding forests.
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Bear Paw Battlefield
Just 40 miles shy of the Canadian border is Bear Paw Battlefield, the site of a five-day-long battle between the Nez Perce and the U.S. Army — the final confrontation between the tribe and the military during the Nez Perce’s journey to Canada. This is the spot where Chief Joseph said his famous quote: “From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever." Visitors can explore the battlefield on the 1.25-mile, self-guided interpretive trail or on a tour with a ranger in the summer months.
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Rosebud Battlefield State Park
Known to the Northern Cheyenne tribe as “Where the Girl Saved Her Brother,” the Battle of the Rosebud marked a fateful point in the Great Sioux War of 1876. On June 17, 1876, Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne warriors, fighting as an organized army led by Sioux chief Crazy Horse and Cheyenne chiefs Two Moon, Young Two Moon and Spotted Wolf, overwhelmed U.S. troops under the command of Brig. Gen. George Cook, stopping their advance across southeast Montana. Following the loss at Rosebud, Cook’s forces were withdrawn to resupply and were not present to support Gen. George Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn eight days later. Part of the Rosebud battleground is now Rosebud Battlefield State Park, a day-use state park where visitors can explore interpretive signage about the battle and recreate on the peaceful landscape.
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