4 Historic Battlefields You Can Visit In Montana

There’s not a corner of this big blue planet that hasn’t seen some sort of conflict or battle—and Montana is no exception. Sure, we might not have the large-scale clashes like the Civil War or Revolutionary War that shaped the East Coast, but Montana has its own share of fascinating, rugged history that’s just as important.

Back east, I got pretty familiar with historic battle sites thanks to one of my more random hobbies—metal detecting. That little pastime gave me what’s probably an above-average amount of knowledge about old battles, though it's mostly only useful in trivia games or on Jeopardy.

So when I made my way out to Montana, that same curiosity kicked in. I found myself wondering about the battles and skirmishes that happened out here, and what kind of stories the land still holds.

Here are some of the most significant battlefields you can visit in Montana.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
This land serves as a place to pause and honor the lives lost during the battle that took place on June 25 and 26, 1876. It was here that Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors stood their ground against the U.S. Army’s 7th Cavalry, led by Lt. Col. George Custer.

Big Hole National Battlefield
On the early morning of August 9, 1877, gunfire broke out, catching a sleeping Nez Perce camp off guard. By the time it was all over the next day, nearly 90 Nez Perce and 31 soldiers and volunteers had lost their lives. Big Hole National Battlefield now stands as a place to remember and honor everyone who was part of this tragedy.

Bear Paw Battlefield

This is the place where the Nez Perce people made their final stand after a long and exhausting 1,300-mile retreat. On October 5, 1877, they surrendered to the U.S. Army. It’s also where Chief Joseph gave his famous line: “From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.”

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Rosebud Battlefield State Park
The Battle of the Rosebud took place on June 17, 1876, when Sioux and Cheyenne warriors, led by Crazy Horse, stopped General Crook’s troops in southeastern Montana. The fight was intense and marked a major Native victory. Just eight days later, Crook’s absence played a key role in Custer’s defeat at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.