On the road again, bright and early, heading to one of the most
famous battlefields in North America, the Little Bighorn National
Battlefield, where we discovered that not everything we learned
from the movies is true.  Another beautiful day.  Will it rain, or...?
Heading Southeast from Billings, Montana.
One more biffy break before
we get there.
Finally here at the main gate. Then to
the Visitor Center Museum. (right) A
typical U.S. Army trooper's uniform.
(left) A Sioux warrior's regalia, probably a chief.  Then there are some of the weapons
archaeologists dug up at the battle site.
(above) A hand-made beaded
belt. (right) A chief's warbonnet.
The troopers were buried
where they fell, including Lt.
Col. Custer and his brother,
Tom, who had followed him
into the Army and into battle.
(left) Some of the Indian scouts who helped the Army.  If
you recall our visit to Cody, WY, last year, you may recall
seeing Curly's shack in Old Trail Town.  There are grave
markers for soldiers and Indians alike, and some
impressive art in the Center and on the grounds.
A panoramic view of some of the battlefield.  The dead were buried
where they lay, covering an area, as best we could tell, of around five
square miles of better.
There was even a burial
area for horses who fell in
battle.
There was an interesting film in the Visitors Center,
but much more enjoyable and informative was the
talk given outside by Ranger Steve Adelson.  He's
a retired History teacher, who really knows his
subject, and he presents it in a rousing, accurate,  
and moving manner.  Steve's presentation alone
would have made the entire trip worthwhile.
It was interesting to see
the signs on the tour of
the battlefield, placed
next to the places where
the actual battles took
place.  The Renfro fight
took place in the area
shown above.
These horses had nothing to do with anything.  
We just enjoy seeing horses on the open range.
After the Little Bighorn Battlefield, we headed back to Billings, stopping off
at the Pictograph Cave State Park.  Early Indians used pictographs quite
often to depict their lives.
That's the Ghost Cave on the left, a tree we liked the look of, and what the well dressed
Wisconsin lady wears to go climbing around the hills and caves of Montana.
Teepee for sale.  Some
assembly required.  See
proprietor for details.
Re-creations of some of the pictographs and more of the
interior of the caves.
You're gonna hike all the way
up there in THOSE shoes?  
And she did. What a tough
bunch, these Wisconsin gals!
We must have seen
hundreds of thousands of
beef cattle, and probably
no more than a hundred
Herefords.  It's all Black
Angus out here.  Pretty
good crop at the antenna
farm, just above Billings.  
Tomorrow, the high country.