Page 26 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

Yellowstone National Park
photo by:
YNP Service

Little Bighorn Battlefield Yellowstone National Park William H. Jackson. They brought back images that
helped convince Congress that the area known as
National Monument Location: There are five entrances into the Yellowstone needed to be protected and preserved.
Park. The West Yellowstone entrance lies In 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a
June 25, 1876 was an ill-fated day for five of about 90 miles south of Bozeman, MT. The law declaring that Yellowstone would forever be
the 7th Cavalry’s twelve companies. That was North entrance near Gardiner, MT is the only “dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasuring
the day that companies C, E, F, I and L, led by one open to wheeled vehicles year round ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.”
George Armstrong Custer, were met by Lakota and is the only access to Cooke City, MT In 1976 the park was declared an International
and Cheyenne warriors. What happened there November through April. Commercial Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site in 1978.
will always be speculation because no soldiers airlines serve the following airports near Yellowstone offers a host of year round recreational
survived. All we have is the largely oral history Yellowstone: Bozeman and Billings, opportunities for all ages and activity levels. Some
of the Native Americans and the physical history MT; Cody and Jackson, WY; Idaho Falls, of the most popular are auto and bike touring,
of the battlefield itself. ID. The West Yellowstone, MT airport is wilderness backpacking, cross country and downhill
Three days after the attack, General Terry serviced from June to early September skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, wildlife and bird
arrived at the battlefield. The soldiers had from Salt Lake City, UT. Bus service viewing, fishing and boating, nature walks, horseback
been mutilated and the bodies were already is available from Bozeman year round. rides and interpretive programs.
decomposing, so with the threat of more Yellowstone has 8 NPS operated visitor In winter, lodging and dining are available at the
attacks they were hurriedly buried where they facilities. Exhibits cover a wide range of natural Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hot Springs
were found. A memorial with the names of the and cultural history subjects. In some cases Hotel. The only campground open in winter is located
casualties listed on it was erected in 1881 on Contact Stations are staffed solely to issue at Mammoth Hot Springs. A backcountry permit is
Last Stand Hill near where Custer’s body was backcountry permits and have no other facilities. required for camping at any other location, including
discovered, over the mass grave where the the winter camping area at Old Faithful. Permits may
Seventh Cavalry soldiers, U.S. Indian Scouts Long before any recorded human history in be obtained at ranger stations open in winter. Ski and
and other personnel were reburied. Marble Yellowstone, a massive volcanic eruption spewed an snowshoe equipment may be rented at Mammoth and
markers have been placed showing where the immense volume of ash that covered all of the western Old Faithful. Snowcoach and snowmobile tours depart
soldiers’ remains were originally found and red US, much of the Midwest, northern Mexico and some from Mammoth, Old Faithful, West Yellowstone and
granite stones mark the spots of a few confirmed areas of the eastern Pacific. The eruption dwarfed the Flagg Ranch outside the South Entrance.
Native deaths. No one knows how many Native that of Mt. St. Helens in 1980 and left a caldera 30
Americans were killed in the battle because miles wide by 45 miles long. That climactic event
occurred about 640,000 years ago and was one of Red Lodge
the dead warriors had been removed by their
families before General Terry’s troops arrived. many processes that shaped Yellowstone National Location: Intersection of Highways 78 and
Some say the spirits of the soldiers and warriors Park, a region once rumored to be “the place where 212 southwest of Billings. Population: 2177.
visit the place of their death even today. hell bubbles up.” Visitor Information: Red Lodge Visitor Center,
For over 100 years, no memorial honored the Geothermal wonders such as Old Faithful 601 North Broadway, Red Lodge, MT 59068;
Native Americans who struggled to preserve and are evidence of one of the world’s largest active Phone: (406) 446-1718 or 1-888-281-0625;
defend their homeland and traditional way of life. volcanoes. These spectacular features befuddled the Email: information@redlodge.com; Website:
Their own heroic sacrifices began to be formally park’s earliest visitors and helped lead to the creation www.redlodge.com
recognized in 1991, when the U.S. Congress of the world’s first national park.
changed the name of the battlefield from Custer Fur trappers’ fantastic tales of cauldrons of Red Lodge is the gateway to northeast Yellowstone
to Little Bighorn and ordered the construction bubbling mud and roaring geysers sending steaming Park via the beautiful “Highway to the Sky”
of an Indian Memorial, a very powerful structure plumes skyward made their way back east. Several Beartooth Highway, one of only 21 designated All-
that calls for peace through unity. expeditions were sent to investigate, opening the American Roads. “The most beautiful roadway in
The battlefield is located just south of the West to further exploration and exploitation. In America” climbs to almost 11,000 feet above sea
junction of I-90 and Highway 212, between 1871, Ferdinand Hayden led an expedition that level, overlooking astounding views of some of the
Crow Agency and Garryowen. included artist Thomas Moran and photographer country’s most rugged areas.
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