We stopped here on our way back to Wyoming. We were lucky enough to catch the last ranger program of the day, a riveting retold tale of the battle- Custer's Last Stand. The ranger did an outstanding job. He was extremely theatrical- a former school teacher. Rangers are always full of good info, but this guy was special. He was clearly passionate about the topic. I wasn't feeling very good about being a Euro-American :(The Native Americans took this battle on June 25, 1876, but it was very much a last hurrah for them as it was only a matter of time until we took all their land and their way of life. You leave this place feeling very emotional and melancholy.
These markers note the places where men fell in battle. The one etched in black is where Custer fell, but he has since been moved to West Point. The landscape is very similar to how it looked 137 years ago.
This is a section of the memorial for the Native American Tribes: Lakota Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho who the United States Army attacked on orders from President Grant's administration. They were to remove and relocate them to the Sioux reservation in the Dakota territory. The tribes were fighting to preserve their traditional way of life as nomadic buffalo hunters. In 1830 there were 60 million bison ( buffalo) roaming the plains of the west, in 1890 there were fewer than 500 left. The white man reasoned that by killing the bison, they would discourage the Indians "primitive, uncivilized" way life. We've learned some lessons since then, but still have a long way to go....
A happier moment the next day at Black Tooth Brewery in Sheridan, WY. Bridget wanted to stay at camp and work on her math packet so we ventured 2 miles into town and got buzzed on local brew!
A happier moment the next day at Black Tooth Brewery in Sheridan, WY. Bridget wanted to stay at camp and work on her math packet so we ventured 2 miles into town and got buzzed on local brew!
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