One-Day Itinerary
Immerse yourself in the history of the conflict between General Custer and the Indian forces who defeated him in the area around the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. Begin your day at the Battlefield itself. Tour the museum on site and learn about the battle from knowledgeable National Park Rangers. You will see displays of the warriors and soldiers who took part in the battle, how they dressed and the weapons they used. You will learn about the decisions Custer made and you can decide whether he was a military genius who was let down by his fellow officers, or an arrogant egomaniac whose poor decisions lost the lives of over 200 of his men. After the museum, drive the Reno-Benteen Loop and visit Last Stand Hill, where monuments to both the Cavalry Soldiers and Indian Warriors are found. After the Battlefield, head to the Custer Trading Post just across Hwy 212 from the Battlefield entrance and try one of the favorites for lunch and try an Indian Taco. After lunch, head to Garryowen, just south on I90, for a stop at the Custer Battlefield. This museum houses the most extensive collection of Custer artifacts in the world. Learn about Libbie Custer, the wife of the fallen hero who dedicated her life to protecting his reputation after his death.
Two Day Itinerary
Spend your first day as described above, then spend your next day visiting some of the cultural sites in the area. About an hour from the Little Bighorn Battlefield on Hwy 212 is the Saint Labre Indian School. This working school features one of the premier Native American museums in the area, dedicated to the history and culture of both the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Tribes. After visiting the school and museum, drive back toward the Battlefield and then head north on I-90 about 20 miles to the Big Horn County Museum in Hardin. This museum gives visitors an idea of what life in this small farming community was like 100 years ago. A model town is set up complete with historic barns, houses, a dentist office, train depot and a church. It’s a great place to wander or even have a picnic lunch under the cottonwood trees.
Day 1:
Start your day at the Little Bighorn Battlefield near Crow Agency, MT. Immerse yourself in the history of the conflict between General Custer and the Indian forces who defeated him in the area around the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. Tour the museum on site at the Battlefield and learn about the battle from knowledgeable National Park Rangers. You will see displays of the warriors and soldiers who took part in the battle, how they dressed and the weapons they used. You will learn about the decisions Custer made and you can decide whether he was a military genius who was let down by his fellow officers, or an arrogant egomaniac whose poor decisions lost the lives of over 200 of his men. After the museum, drive the Reno-Benteen Loop and visit Last Stand Hill, where monuments to both the Cavalry Soldiers and Indian Warriors are found. After the Battlefield, head to the Custer Trading Post directly across from the Battlefield entrance. Try one of the Indian Tacos and tour through the impressive displays. After lunch, head to Garryowen, just south on I90, for a stop at the Custer Battlefield Museum. This museum houses the most extensive collection of Custer artifacts in the world. Learn about Libbie Custer, the wife of the fallen hero who dedicated her life to protecting his reputation after his death. From here head north to visit the Big Horn County Museum in Hardin. This museum gives visitors an idea of what life in this small farming community was like 100 years ago. A model town is set up complete with historic barns, houses, a dentist office, train depot and a church. It’s a great place to wander or even have a picnic lunch under the cottonwood trees. End the day with a scenic drive to Miles City, 118 miles via Highway 384 and I-94 for your overnight stay.
Day 2:
After breakfast, start your day at the Range Riders Museum right on the edge of Miles City. This museum is the largest in the region and focuses on the history of life on the range in Eastern Montana. Learn about the history of Miles City, of the military leader for whom the city is named, and the cowboy culture that made the city famous and is still a major part of daily life in Miles City today. Next, be sure to visit the Custer County Art & Heritage Center featuring art from both local and national artists. Housed in Miles City’s historic waterworks complex, this museum is just a short drive from the Range Riders Museum. No trip to Miles City would be complete without a stop by the Montana Bar on Main Street. This historic bar will transport you back to Miles City’s early days of cattle barons and cowboys. The restaurant attached to the bar serves food for both lunch and dinner. If you are interested in sampling some local wine, make a stop by the Tongue River Vineyard and Winery on your way out of town. Aside from the usual wine favorites, be sure to sample the Ripe Apple, Rhubarb and Crab Apple wines. When you are ready for the next part of your day, head east on I-94 to the town of Terry, where you will find the Evelyn Cameron Gallery. This gallery features the photography of Evelyn Cameron, one of the most celebrated early 20th century frontier photographers. Experience life on the prairie through Evelyn’s incredible photographs and read excerpts from her journal, which she kept meticulously during her time in Eastern Montana. After the Gallery, continue on I-94 to Glendive for dinner and lodging.
Day 3:
Begin your morning with a trip to Makoshika State Park. At the visitor center, learn about how the Montana badlands looked 65 million years ago. You will be introduced to the area’s earlier residents, from Tyrannosaurus Rex to the Woolly Mammoth. You will also learn about the techniques Paleontologists use to find, remove, and protect the ancient fossils found in the park. After taking a drive on the scenic road, which winds its way to the top of the plateau, head back to town and visit the Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil Museum just off I-94 at exit 215. This museum offers a slightly different take on the origin and life of the dinosaur. This museum displays more complete dinosaur skeletons than any other museum in Montana and presents the fossils from a Creationist perspective. Finish your day with a visit to the Frontier Gateway Museum next door to the Glendive Dinosaur Museum. This museum features the history of the Glendive area from prehistoric man to modern times.
