MONTANA

June 6, 2011…Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

Today we planned a stop at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana. Of course, most everyone knows of Custer’s Last Stand…this is the place! The Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument commemorates the Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer’s Last Stand, which took place on June 25–26, 1876. This historic battle was a significant clash between the U.S. Army’s 7th Cavalry, led by Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer, and a coalition of Native American tribes, including the Lakota Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho, led by leaders such as Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. The Native American forces achieved a decisive victory, resulting in the death of Custer and nearly all of his men.

Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument

Graves sites of soldiers are placed close to where they fell – Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument

Bull Snake climbing the stone wall at the Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument

The monument preserves the battlefield and honours the soldiers and Native Americans who fought here. Key features include the Custer National Cemetery, a memorial to the U.S. cavalry, and the Indian Memorial, which recognizes the Native American perspective.

Deer Lodge, Montana

From the Little Big Horn, we had no planned stops and it was just a push for home and back across the border to make the deadline for getting our RV through customs and back to work. We continued on Interstate 90 through Montana to Washington.

First views of the mountains on the way to Deer Lodge

An old homestead we past on the way to Deer Lodge

We stopped overnight in Deer Lodge, MT at the Deer Lodge A-OK Campground and RV Site. d After setting up we wandered around town a bit checking out the Old Montana Prison and a couple of other interesting historic looking spots.

Deer Lodge A-OK Campground and RV Site

Frontier Montana Museum, Deer lodge,

The Old Montana Prison is an interesting historic site that operated as a state penitentiary from 1871 to 1979. It is one of the oldest prisons in the American West and is now part of the Montana State Prison Museum Complex. The prison housed some of the region’s most notorious criminals and witnessed some dramatic events, including riots and escapes.

Old Montana Prison, Deer Lodge

We had to try this place for dinner in Deer Lodge…Scharf’s Restaurant…I think it may have been the only place in town. The food? Well we scarfed it back anyway!