Find the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Visitor Center at the Big Horn County Historical Museum
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument has opened a temporary visitor center at the Big Horn County Historical Museum in Hardin, Montana, while the monument completes exciting renovations. The visitor center is a must-visit for those who want to learn more about the Battle of Little Bighorn and the history of Montana. As the largest of its kind in the state, the museum is well worth the trip, featuring several gallery-style exhibitions and 24 historic structures preserved on site.
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument is a place of remembrance. It preserves the site of the Battle of Little Bighorn that occurred on June 25 and 26, 1876, where Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors fought against the US Army’s 7th Calvary, led by Lt. Col. George Custer. The temporary visitor center offers opportunities to acknowledge and reflect on the complex stories preserved through the park’s memorials, interpretive trails, and landscapes.
Learn about the Battle of the Little Bighorn by watching the 20-minute film Triumph and Tragedy Along the Little Bighorn. Visit the WNP bookstore, which offers a variety of books, collectibles, and other special keepsakes related to the park. All purchases at the WNP store support programming, park staff, infrastructure, and research at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument and 71 other national parks throughout the West.
Then, explore the museum’s other fascinating exhibits. Learn about Fort Custer, named after the general who died in the battle, and Montana’s many Indigenous peoples. Tour the historic buildings on site, including an authentic Crow teepee, an 1800s cabin, 1920s barn, and a blacksmith shop. For those who want to learn more, be sure to talk to a staff member to make an appointment at the museum’s archives and research center. The museum also hosts a variety of guided and self-guided tours, living history days, and other programs.
The temporary visitor center is a worthwhile and informative stop before your visit to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. The park is open Friday through Sunday, as well as for the commemoration of the battle’s 249th anniversary. Be sure to contact the park, or visit the park website, for additional details.
