Cody, Little Big Horn Trip - finally made it!

[Huskerguy]

I have read the comments about the museum at Cody and Little Big Horn for several years. They were on my bucket list for some time and something always seem to come up, Covid and little things like that.

We finally made it last week, leaving from central KS. Hit some places in Nebraska (my home state), Devil's Tower, and a day at Little Big Horn. I wasn't sure what to expect at LBH, really thought there would be a museum with artifacts and there was mainly a visitors center where you could buy books. Since my last name is Custer, I have traced our family back to where we came through and the Colonel as well. Seeing the area, the terrain and reading all the information did make sense of the event, much more than reading a book. I also didn't realize it was a National Cemetery. We walked every path and read every marker. Glad I went, kind of solemn place though when you think about what happened there. One interesting thing, a park guy was giving a talk about what led up to the day, the battle(s) and aftermath. It was interesting and a guy pipes up with his own ideas of what he heard like Custer wanting to be President and some other stuff and the guide quickly shut him down and said those things were not true. I guess, something like that is always going to be open to speculation since no one survived.

Spent two full days at Cody. The museum is incredible. The gun part was almost too much! I understand it has been redone in the last few years so if you didn't see the pull out cabinets full of guns, you are missing a visual overload of firearms. Very well laid out and interesting time lines.

The rest was just West Yellowstone and tourist, hiking stuff. We have been to Yellowstone once when we were first married, and no one had ever heard of this place called Jackson. Shoot, we just drove there and got a hotel, easy, they were open all over. Now you you have to reserve way in advance. Interesting note, my wife looked up Motel 6 and it was $200 a night in Jackson!

So that trip is off my bucket list. Now we are talking about our next one. We are not big travelers, this is a bit out of our wheel house. Grand Canyon and Black Hills are on the list. We waited to go after Labor Day thinking the kids and families would be back in school. There were still lots of people, mostly our age ! Some masks, no social distancing, people on top of each other it seemed, and no one cared! I don't even know what normal is anymore.

Thanks to those that provided information on the area either on here of through DM. It was helpful.

 

[walkinghorse]

We spent yesterday driving to from the Little Big Horn site. Having never been before both my wife and I wanted to see the site. We concur that it was a very solumn place and seeing the terrain gives one a better perception of the events. The weather was beautiful with a fair amount of color in the trees along the river where the Indians were encamped.

 

[dave1918a2]

It's on My bucket list to go to Cody and LBH. I live just outside the Black Hills, but I grew up there. Changed so much in 52 years. I love it here.

 

[jag312]

.... I wasn't sure what to expect at LBH, really thought there would be a museum with artifacts and there was mainly a visitors center where you could buy books.....

No museum at The Little Big Horn? Seriously? Well that changes my will. I had planned to give my Springfield Model 1873 Cavalry Carbine that was at The Little Big Horn to the museum, but there is no museum. I'm updating my will to give certain firearms to various museums. Maybe the Cody Museum would like it. Is there a museum at Wounded Knee? I have a carbine that was used at Wounded Knee and The Bloody Pocket.

A good book to read about The Little Big Horn is "With Custer On The Little Bighorn" by William O. Taylor. Taylor was with Major Reno at the valley fight, with Benteen at the hilltop fight, and helped a few days later to bury the bodies of the men who died with Custer.


William O. Taylor was a Private in A Company under Captain Myles Moylan.

 

[Absalom]

….One interesting thing, a park guy was giving a talk about what led up to the day, the battle(s) and aftermath. It was interesting and a guy pipes up with his own ideas of what he heard like Custer wanting to be President and some other stuff and the guide quickly shut him down and said those things were not true. I guess, something like that is always going to be open to speculation since no one survived. …..

I’ve done plenty of history talks, in costume and uniform, not at the LBH but for national and state parks in the West.

The self-proclaimed experts among the visitors, with their deep but often quirky knowledge are great fun to have discussions with if they stick around after the tour or intercept you on patrol. But if they try to sabotage your script and try to take over your carefully planned talk, shutting them down politely but right away is the only option if you don’t want to lose your group

 

[Baggy Wrinkle]

JAG, no museum at Wounded Knee. In fact, there is nothing there except a poorly maintained Indian cemetery and weeds. The local tribes have repeatedly turned down offers by the government and others to build a monument but decided to do it themselves, so nothing got done.

At Little Big Horn there have been various attempts to get a museum, but the Congress hasn’t gotten on board. As I understand it, there’s a warehouse in Arizona full of LBH artifacts waiting for a museum.

Rarely mentioned when people talk about Cody, WY is the spectacular drive over the Bighorn Mts from Sheridan or Buffalo. Best done in a small sports car, of course.

 

[walkinghorse]

....
Rarely mentioned when people talk about Cody, WY is the spectacular drive over the Bighorn Mts from Sheridan or Buffalo. Best done in a small sports car, of course.

Maybe a small enough sorts car would go under a moose if encountered on the road?
Last several times we have been in the Bighorns we have encountered numerous moose, both on the highway and while on horseback in the back country. Luckily no problems!

 

[bgrafsr]

First Wife and I went to the Black Hills one year. Driving along the Southern road, I could imagine the Indians coming over the grassy hills on their horses charging the Cavalry.
Beautiful country, but pretty foreboding too.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Glad you enjoyed your trip, Huskerguy. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Have you been to Ft. Riley, KS? The "Custer" home is there as a museum. Quite interesting. So is the Post museum. Lots and lots of wonderful displays.

Of course, Ft. Larned, KS, is my favorite old West place. So very authentic.

 

[crazyphil]

I haven't been in Cody for many years. It's really beautiful up there.
I remember a story about Jackson from a long time ago. It seems the
guys in the bar were telling stories about bear hunting. One guy said
I would give a hundred dollars just to see a bear close up. A guy near
by overheard, ran out, jumped in his car and drove up toward Yellowstone.
It wasn't long before he came upon some bears. He jumped out and
opened his trunk. He had a box of cookies that he threw to the bears.
Then he threw the box and the cookies in the trunk. One of the bears
jumped in the trunk, and the guy slammed the trunk lid shut. Then he
drove back to the Jackson bar, took the guy by the arm and escorted him
out to the car. Opened the trunk, and said there you are, pay up!

 

[eb07]

Truly if you want to do the grand canyon, the north rim in summer is the best. No crowds. However no food, gas, amenities. But it is as it was originally viewed with no walls, no shuttles, no museums, no tourists. most beautiful place on earth. And the great western trail was an awesome trip.

 

[lkabug]

I haven't been in Cody for many years. It's really beautiful up there.
I remember a story about Jackson from a long time ago. It seems the
guys in the bar were telling stories about bear hunting. One guy said
I would give a hundred dollars just to see a bear close up. A guy near
by overheard, ran out, jumped in his car and drove up toward Yellowstone.
It wasn't long before he came upon some bears. He jumped out and
opened his trunk. He had a box of cookies that he threw to the bears.
Then he threw the box and the cookies in the trunk. One of the bears
jumped in the trunk, and the guy slammed the trunk lid shut. Then he
drove back to the Jackson bar, took the guy by the arm and escorted him
out to the car. Opened the trunk, and said there you are, pay up!

Without pictures....... well, you know.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

As a teenager I visited the LBH in 71 & 73. Two years ago I toured a number of Civil War battle fields, The "Visitor Centers" all over the country sell the same books as at the LBH, the only difference is the prices have skyrocketed since 1971!

When you study the LBH Battle you develop a hunger for more knowledge about What? How? and Why? I ended up with a couple of shelves of books. when it is all said and done, I came to a conclusion: The responsibility always falls on the commander! Plus; When the commander is dead, The survivors will ALWAYS see to it he gets the blame!

For 50 years I've studied this and am still finding "Hidden Facts", "Exposed Lies", and "Untrue Legends". The silly question, "How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?" and the serious question, "What really happened at the Little Big Horn?" share the same answer: "The world may NEVER know!"

Ivan

 

[eb07]

On topic, for those who cannot visit or are thinking of visiting, this youtube channel has excellent walk through videos with commentary on the battle:


CusterApollo - YouTube

 

[Huskerguy]

No museum at The Little Big Horn? Seriously? Well that changes my will. I had planned to give my Springfield Model 1873 Cavalry Carbine that was at The Little Big Horn to the museum, but there is no museum. I'm updating my will to give certain firearms to various museums. Maybe the Cody Museum would like it. Is there a museum at Wounded Knee? I have a carbine that was used at Wounded Knee and The Bloody Pocket.

A good book to read about The Little Big Horn is "With Custer On The Little Bighorn" by William O. Taylor. Taylor was with Major Reno at the valley fight, with Benteen at the hilltop fight, and helped a few days later to bury the bodies of the men who died with Custer.


William O. Taylor was a Private in A Company under Captain Myles Moylan.

Jag, I am sure Cody would gladly take your firearms for display! It is very well done and they give credit to whomever donated the firearms.

My guess is there are a lot of political barriers to a Custer museum. Especially these days. Still, it is history and I know many would be interested.

Sounds like you have some unique firearms for sure!