Far West hosts sites from frontier warfare

VFW Magazine, Jan, 2004 by Shannon Hanson

Big Hole National Battlefield, Wisdom, (406) 689-3155.

Site of August 1877 battle of Nez Perce War in which 31 Army soldiers and 90 Nez Perce Indians were killed. Visitor center overlooks battlefield on which trails lead to areas of interest. Displays include video, photos, quotations and personal belongings of battle participants and non-combatants.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Crow Agency, (406) 638-2621.

Site of legendary June 1876 battle between 7th Cavalry and Sioux and Cheyenne Indians under Sitting Bull in which 268 U.S. cavalrymen were killed. Visitor center, museum, walking tour with interpretive markers, Custer National Cemetery, 4 1/2-mile Battlefield Road that connects Custer and Reno-Benteen battlefields. New Indian memorial.

Rosebud Battlefield State Park, near Crow Agency, (406) 232-0900.

Site of second battle in Army's 1876 campaign against Sioux and Cheyenne Indians, in June 1876. Small interpretive display.

Bear Paw Battlefield, Chinook, (406) 357-3130.

Site of final battle of Nez Perce War, September/October 1877, after which Chief Joseph surrendered and Indians moved to a reservation. Self-guided trail, interpretive signs and markers. Interim visitor center in Blaine County Museum, Chinook, (406) 357-2590.

Custer Battlefield Museum, Garryowen, (406) 638-1876.

Houses extensive exhibit of artifacts, clothing and photographs associated with Battle of Little Bighorn and Plains Indian wars.

Fort Benton, Fort Benton, (406) 622-3864.

Originally a fur-trading post built in 1847. Occupied by Army, 1869-1875. Partially reconstructed fort, two museums. Lewis and Clark memorial nearby.

Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History, Missoula, (406) 549-5346.

Covers Montana military history and Montanans in battle from frontier period through war on terrorism with exhibits, dioramas and weapons. Housed in two 1936 buildings built by Civilian Conservation Corps, also featured in an exhibit.

NEVADA

Nevada State Museum, Carson City, (775) 687-4810.

Features displays on career of USS Nevada including artifacts and parts of the ship, and the state's contributions to WWII.

Fort Churchill State Historic Park, Silver Springs, (775) 577-2345.

Provided protection for settlers, Pony Express, etc., 1861-1869. Historical marker in town, adobe ruins and visitor center tell story of 1861 Pyramid Lake campaign against Paiute Indians. Interpretive trail.

Wendover Air Field and Museum, Wendover, (435) 665-2308.

Self-guided tours of training site of 509th Composite Group, which dropped atomic bombs on Japan to end WWII. Tours of buildings and world's only open atomic bomb loading pit available by appointment. Small museum housed in airport operations building includes photos and info detailing training, dioramas, model aircraft and short film. Memorial to 509th at city welcome center.

UTAH

Camp Floyd-Stagecoach Inn State Park, Fairfield, (801) 768-8932.

Built in 1858 to house troops sent to stop perceived Mormon rebellion. Abandoned in 1861 with outbreak of Civil War. Only commissary building remains, houses museum.