Battle of Little Bighorn: History, commemoration, and visiting the battlefield today
In the rolling grasslands of southeastern Montana, wind moves steadily across open prairie and low ridgelines. Today, this landscape is preserved as Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, where key ridgelines, ravines, and the broader battlefield setting remain recognizable even as the site has been managed and interpreted over time.
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, fought June 25 through June 26, 1876, was one of the most consequential conflicts of the Great Sioux War of 1876. It resulted in the defeat of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and five companies of the 7th Cavalry by a coalition of Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors.
As the 150th anniversary approaches, the site offers not only a place to remember the battle, but an opportunity to understand how this landscape and the peoples who hold it sacred have endured over time.
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Context: Expansion and conflict
The battle is part of a larger history shaped by US expansion and treaty agreements that were later contested. The 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868) recognized the Black Hills and surrounding territory as Lakota land. The discovery of gold in the region soon after led to increased military presence and pressure on Tribal Nations to relocate to reservations.
Many Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho groups resisted these efforts, maintaining their homelands and lifeways. By 1876, US military campaigns were underway to force compliance, leading to the encounter at the Little Bighorn River.
The Battle: June 25–26, 1876
The engagement began when Custer divided his regiment and advanced toward a large encampment along the Little Bighorn River. The encampment included thousands of people, with a substantial number of warriors present.
Custer’s immediate command—approximately 210 soldiers—was defeated on what is now known as Custer Hill. Other elements of the 7th Cavalry, under Major Marcus Reno and Captain Frederick Benteen, established defensive positions and survived until reinforcements arrived.
The battle resulted in the deaths of more than 260 US soldiers and an estimated 30 to 100 Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors, though exact numbers vary across sources.
Walking the battlefield
Visitors can follow a network of roads and trails across the site. White marble markers indicate where US soldiers fell, while red granite markers identify locations where Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors died.
The Indian Memorial Little Bighorn, dedicated in 2003, honors the Tribal Nations who fought in the battle. Its circular design and open center create a space for reflection, with inscriptions representing multiple Tribes.
Visiting today
Summer is the most visited season, though current construction in 2026 may affect access, parking, and operating days; visitors should check the park website before arrival.
To engage more fully with the site:
- Take time to read interpretive materials across the monument
- Visit both Custer Hill and the Indian Memorial
- Attend ranger programs when available
- Approach the site with awareness of its historical and cultural importance
A landscape to reflect on and learn from
The terrain of Little Bighorn is understated—grassland, ridgelines, and open sky. Its significance lies in what occurred here and how it continues to be understood.
The battlefield preserves both the events of June 1876 and the ongoing effort to respectfully steward the land, still sacred to many Indigenous peoples.
By Julie Thompson
