Garryowen, Montana
Where the Battle of the Little Bighorn Began
| Garryowen is one of the most
historic sites in Custer Country and a “must see” for those interested
in the Battle of the Little Bighorn and the history of the American West. The town of Garryowen was named after the old Irish tune “Garryowen,” it was the regimental marching song of General George Custer's 7th U.S. Cavalry. |
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| A registered historic site,
Garryowen, the only town within the Battlefield, is located at I-90 Exit
514 just south of Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument and Custer
National Cemetery. The site is just one hour’s drive from
Billings, MT, or from Sheridan, WY. The Battle of the Little Bighorn began on this quiet riverbank when Seventh Cavalry troops attacked Sitting Bull’s camp in the first military action of the West’s most famous battle. This grassy riverbank is where Major Marcus Reno’s troops attacked Sitting Bull’s camp on the afternoon of June 25, 1876, in the first action of the Battle of the Little Bighorn under Lt. Col. George A. Custer’s command. For a century the battle was known as “Custer’s Last Stand” or the “Custer Massacre.” From Garryowen, visitors can view all of the famous locations associated with the Battle of the Little Bighorn, including the site where Custer was last seen alive, Major Reno’s hilltop defense site, Weir Point, Last Stand Hill, Medicine Tail Coulee, the Crow’s Nest, and Wolf Mountains. |
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is
the site of one of the first Seventh Cavalry casualties. The granite tomb
was dedicated during the Burial of the Hatchet ceremony in 1926 at
Garryowen, during the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Little
Bighorn. White Bull, a Sioux Indian, and General Godfrey performed the
ceremony in front of 50,000 observers. The town is now privately owned and operated by Christopher Kortlander. It is the site of the Custer Battlefield Museum, Garryowen Trading Post, a Federal Post Office, gas station, convenience store, Subway sandwich shop, and rest area. Guest suites are now available. The Custer Battlefield Museum houses extensive new exhibits including hundreds of Custer Battlefield artifacts from the Battle of the Little Bighorn and the Plains Indian War period. A 45-minute documentary film shown hourly in the new theater gives logistical battle bearings to visitors before they begin the historical voyage through the Custer Battlefield Museum, then move on to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. |
Important Indian War period artifacts and manuscripts related to Custer,
Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, and the Seventh Cavalry, as well as an
acclaimed collection of highly historic photographs by D.F. Barry, are
part of the exhibit. Preserved, for example, is the contract for Sitting
Bull’s appearance in the famous Buffalo Bill Wild West Show. The exhibit also includes a lock of Custer’s hair, Captain Tom W. Custer’s Kerr revolver, Little Wolf’s battle-worn eagle feather war bonnet, war clubs and trade knives, cavalry spurs and boots, and an Army pistol dropped on the Reno retreat route still fully loaded. A significant collection of battle vintage beaded clothing on exhibit adds to bronzes, paintings, and other memorabilia to create an educational tour through the vanished American frontier. The Custer Battlefield Museum is open every day of the year except holidays. For tourist and lodging information about Garryowen, call (406) 638-2020. |