Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in southeastern Montana commemorates the 1876 engagement commonly known as Custer’s Last Stand. The site preserves battlefield terrain, memorials and a national cemetery associated with the battle.

Interpretive trails and markers guide visitors across primary engagement areas, including a raised area known as Last Stand Hill, while a visitor center offers exhibits and an orientation film. The site includes a national cemetery where soldiers killed in the fighting are buried and marked locations that interpret troop positions and actions.

On June 25-26, 1876, the 7th U.S. Cavalry under Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer engaged a large force of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho, resulting in a significant defeat for Custer’s command. Over subsequent decades the site was memorialized with monuments, burials and preservation efforts that formalized the battlefield as a protected historic area.

The monument lies along the Little Bighorn River in southeastern Montana, east of the Crow Agency and north of the modern town of Hardin; it is accessed by road from regional towns and highways.

• Battle date and combatants: The Battle of the Little Bighorn occurred on June 25-26, 1876, between the 7th Cavalry and a coalition of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho forces.
• Site features: The site preserves battlefield topography and memorial markers; walking routes allow visitors to follow key engagement points across the field.

What to See #

• Last Stand Hill: Known as Last Stand Hill, the raised area marks the primary locus of the 1876 fighting and contains field markers and interpretive signage.
• Custer National Cemetery: Custer National Cemetery occupies a portion of the site and contains graves and memorials for soldiers who died in the 1876 battle.
• Visitor Center and Trails: A visitor center provides exhibits, a short orientation film and a bookstore; trails and interpretive panels lead across the battlefield.