Your visit to the Custer National Cemetery at Little Bighorn Battlefield is like a trip through time. You will relive the drama of America's coming of age as you walk along the graves of known and unknown veterans of our nation's wars, including women and children from isolated frontier posts, Indian scouts, and Medal of Honor recipients.
Last Stand Hill is where the Battle of the Little Bighorn ended for George Armstrong Custer and his 210 men with him. Exactly what happened to Custer's command never will be fully known. From Indian accounts, archeological finds, and positions of bodies, historians can piece together the Custer portion of the battle, although many answers remain elusive. Atop the hill stand the 7th Cavalry Memorial and the Indian Memorial honoring all those who fell in the Battle.
At approximately 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 25, 1876, the battered remnants of Major Marcus A. Reno's three companies reached these bluffs following their disastrous attack in the valley. The warriors who had pursued Reno's retreating command left the pursuit and went downstream. Reno was soon joined by Captain Frederick W. Benteen's battalion of three companies (125 men) and the pack train with its escort of 130 men.
The Spirit Warrior Memorial helps to shed light on the other part of the story at Little Bighorn Battlefield. It was built to honor the tribes that fought on both sides of the battle who were there to preserve their way of life. You will find the stories of some of the warriors from the Battle, their perspectives, observations, and experience.
This 4.5 mile road takes you through the battlefield to the Reno-Benteen Defense Site. There are waysides to pull of next to along the way as well as an audio tour available on your cell phone. There are places to pull over and read the waysides or to enjoy a particular view.
