Custer National Cemetery, located within the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana, serves as a memorial to those who fought in the Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25 and 26, 1876. The battle pitted General George Armstrong Custer’s 7th Cavalry against a combined Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho force. Custer National Cemetery, established as part of the national monument, honors both U.S. soldiers and Native American warriors who died during the conflict.
The site itself is situated in a rugged and varied landscape, consisting of uplands, bluffs, the Little Bighorn River, and plains. It was first preserved in 1879 as a U.S. National Cemetery, initially protecting the graves of 7th Cavalry troopers. Over time, the site expanded, incorporating additional battlefields, including the Reno-Benteen Battlefield and the Crow Agency Battle site, ultimately being designated as the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in 1946.
The cemetery’s history includes the interment of soldiers and the construction of memorials, including a granite monument erected in 1881 at Last Stand Hill, where Custer’s body was found. The Indian Memorial, dedicated between 2001 and 2003, commemorates the Native American warriors who fought in the battle, with markers for fallen Cheyenne warriors and other Native American figures.
The monument honors all who participated in the battle, including those who perished, and reflects the complex and often contested legacy of the event. The Indian Memorial, featuring a bronze sculpture of a procession of Spirit Warriors by Colleen Cutschall, stands as a powerful symbol of respect for the Native American perspective on the battle. Throughout the years, various markers and memorials have been added, including a marker for an unknown Lakota warrior, as part of an ongoing effort to ensure recognition of all those involved in the historic struggle.
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Battlefield Tour Road, Crow Agency, MT, USA
Distance: 0.35 mi (straight line)
Museums and Interpretive Centers Outdoor Experiences General History
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500 Heritage Rd, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA
Distance: 1.50 mi (straight line)
Festivals and Events Tribal Experiences
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Crow Fair Pow wow Grounds, Heritage Road, Crow Agency, MT, USA
Distance: 2.15 mi (straight line)
Festivals and Events Tribal Experiences
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3391 Interstate 90 Frontage Road, Garryowen, MT, USA
Distance: 2.32 mi (straight line)
Food and Drinks Tribal Experiences Shopping
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Wellknown Buffalo Coffee House and Gifts, Interstate 90 Frontage Road, Garryowen, MT, USA
Distance: 2.33 mi (straight line)
Tribal Experiences Outdoor Experiences
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Big Horn County Historical Museum, 3rd St E, Hardin, MT, USA
Distance: 13.93 mi (straight line)
Museums and Interpretive Centers
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94 Bravewolf St, Busby, MT 59016, USA
Distance: 23.26 mi (straight line)
Festivals and Events Tribal Experiences
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95 Bravewolf St, Busby, MT 59016, USA
Distance: 23.26 mi (straight line)
Festivals and Events Tribal Experiences
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Cheyenne Commerce Center, U.S. 212, Lame Deer, MT, USA
Distance: 37.17 mi (straight line)
487 Powwow Lane, Lame Deer, MT, USA
Distance: 39.55 mi (straight line)
Festivals and Events Tribal Experiences
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Pompeys Pillar National Monument, Highway 312, Pompeys Pillar, MT, USA
Distance: 40.34 mi (straight line)
Outdoor Experiences LC Features Museums and Interpretive Centers
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Huntley Project Museum, Railroad Highway, Huntley, MT, USA
Distance: 46.12 mi (straight line)
Museums and Interpretive Centers
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Pictograph Cave State Park, Coburn Road, Billings, MT, USA
Distance: 49.64 mi (straight line)
Tribal Experiences Outdoor Experiences
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Bitter Creek Outfitters, Coburn Road, Billings, MT, USA
Distance: 49.94 mi (straight line)
Outdoor Experiences Outfitters
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John H. Dover Memorial Park, Mary Street, Billings, MT, USA
Distance: 51.69 mi (straight line)
John H. Dover Memorial Park, Mary Street, Billings, MT, USA
Distance: 51.69 mi (straight line)
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