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GETTING THERE CAN BE MORE THAN HALF THE FUN.
by Jim Schaefer
When most people think of Montana, two places come immediately to mind: Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks. That's only natural, since "Montana" is Spanish for "mountains" and rumor has it there are a few mountains in each of those parks.
But looking at a map of the state will tell you that only 1/3 of Montana is mountainous. So what about the other 2/3? What's there to do? Contrary to what some might think, there is plenty of beauty, history and entertainment in eastern Montana, no matter what your area of interest. And, who knows, maybe stopping at some of the lesser-known cities and towns in eastern Montana will help you create a new interest. Custer Country is one of six tourism regions in Montana and is comprised of over 36,000 square miles in southeast Montana, consisting of ever-changing landscapes, from prairies to haunting sandstone formations to rugged mountains, and you're invited to come see what you've been missing.
Here are some suggestions for what to do and what to see in Custer Country. After all, everyone needs a break, and after reading about the lesser-known attractions in eastern Montana, your passengers might consider a bus hijacking to get you to stop.
Interstate 94 through Custer Country offers lots of interesting attractions, whether your interest is history, science or culture. Let us take you on a tour of some places you'll want to consider including in your next itinerary.
As you enter Montana from the eastern border, the first town you come to is Wibaux (pronounced wee-bow), named after Pierre Wibaux, a French nobleman who came to Montana in 1883 to seek his fortune by raising cattle. He succeeded, having accumulated as many as 40,000 head, making Wibaux one of the largest shipping points in the country for a time. Today, you can visit the home he built, which is now part of the Wibaux County Museum, or the statue he commissioned to be erected after his death.
Wibaux is also home to one of the most unusual churches you'll ever see. Originally built in 1895, St. Peter's Catholic Church was later given a facade of lava rock. While it gets only limited use today, it is a photographic opportunity not to be missed. Conveniently, all of this is less than a mile from the Wibaux Visitors Center, which has bathrooms, information and wireless internet.
Glendive is just 35 miles west of Wibaux and offers some interesting places to stop. Paleontology is becoming a popular hobby for people young and old and Glendive offers more than the usual displays. The town is one of 15 stops on the recently-formed Montana Dinosaur Trail and offers two museums and a state park that are devoted to the study of paleontology. Makoshika State Park is Montana's largest state park, and makes an interesting side trip for those who are interested in how the last of the dinosaurs lived and why this area has become one of the "hottest" areas in the world for the study of prehistoric life. The park features an interpretive center featuring exhibits of several fossils that were discovered in its 11, 265 acres.
Glendive's two dinosaur museums, the Makoshika Dinosaur Museum downtown and the Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil Museum, both offer impressive displays of fossils and full-size replicas of the creatures who roamed the earth long ago, but they take two different approaches to earth's creation and geological history. Makoshika Dinosaur Museum adheres to the most widely-held theory that the earth is hundreds of millions of years old, while the Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil Museum takes a creationist's look at the world of dinosaurs. A trip to both gives the visitor a lot to think about.
Glendive is not just known for its Dinosaurs alone, however. Bridger Bronze is located downtown and offers the visitor a great opportunity to view and purchase original bronze-cast sculptures from miniatures to life-size. Sculptors Pamela Harr and Harvey Rattey offer insight and information on how the finished sculptures are designed and cast. Glendive also offers lodging, restaurants and shopping for those who wish to spend more time in this great little city on the Yellowstone. And let's not forget that famous army officer by the name William Clark, who first documented the many sights of this area during his return in 1806.
Photography is still one of the favorite pursuits of Custer Country's visitors, but the work of one famous photographer from 1894 - 1928 is now considered historically important. Lady Evelyn Cameron came to the tiny community of Terry, half way between Glendive and Miles City to ranch and raise polo ponies for export to her native England. She and her naturalist husband, Ewen, had limited success in that venture, so Evelyn began taking photos to supplement their income. She eventually took 1000s of pictures of wildlife, people and places in the open prairies of the badlands. Her work was almost lost to the world until hundreds of her glass negatives were found in the basement of her best friend in the 1970s, 50 years after Evelyn's death. Donna Lucey, who discovered the plates and pointed out their historical significance, wrote a book about the life of Evelyn Cameron entitled, "Photographing Montana 1894-1928: The Life and Work of Evelyn Cameron," which was later used as a basis for a PBS documentary entitled, Evelyn Cameron, Pictures from a Worthy Life. Visitors can see much of the same scenery that Evelyn loved to photograph, very much unchanged from then 'til now.
Miles City, which bills itself as "The Cowboy Capitol of Montana" is certainly deserving of the title. It was the "end of the trail" for cattle being driven up from Texas to be shipped off to the Chicago and New York markets in the 1850s to 1860s. The book by Larry McMurtry, Lonesome Dove, and the made-for-TV movie based upon it, were set partly in Miles City. The fictional Texas Ranger Gus McCrae breathed his last in Miles City, and some of the beautiful homes and downtown buildings may take your breath away as well. There is probably not another city in eastern Montana that offers more historic homes than does Miles City. Many of the cattle barons built beautifully ostentatious homes along Main Street. Many of them have been meticulously maintained and are listed on the Historic Registry.
Art buffs and history aficionados will also enjoy Miles City. The town was originally the site of Fort Keogh, and was commanded by General Nelson A. Miles, whose command included a gentleman by the name of Lt. Col. George A. Custer, who would later participate in the most famous military battle in history, the Battle of the Little Bighorn, otherwise known as "Custer's Last Stand." The Rangeriders Museum in Miles City includes many artifacts from the days of Fort Keogh and the events leading up to the Little Bighorn, but also helps tell the story of the struggle to settle the west, including the bloody conflict between the "open range" ranchers and those who wanted to fence off the land for farming. The museum has one of the most extensive gun collections in the country and includes a reconstruction of what Miles City looked like back in the late 1800s, when cattlemen ruled.
Miles City is also the home of the Miles City Art and Heritage Center. Housed in the huge concrete cisterns that once were part of the city's water works, the art center is part museum and part modern art gallery, with permanent displays featuring artists such as J.K. Ralston and William Standing, photography exhibits including photos by E.S Curtis, L.A. Huffman and Evelyn Cameron, and traveling exhibits of ceramics, water and oil paintings and quilts. There is something here for every art lover and there is always something new, no matter how many times one visits.
Not to be overlooked is the World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale held in May of each year. This event brings visitors from around the world to witness one of the great events in American rodeo. The meanest horses and the toughest riders converge on Miles City once a year determined to challenge the age-old maxim, "There ain't a horse that can't be rode, and there ain't a cowboy that can't be throwed." Sellers bring their best bucking stock and buyers bid on them to add to their strings of horses that may well end up performing in the biggest rodeo of them all, the National Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada. This event is so popular that reservations need to be made at least a year in advance, but if you're passing through, it's fun to stop and take in the events that accompany it, including the farmer's market, the Western Art Quick Draw, barbeques and ice cream socials.
Speaking of world-class events, how about the world's largest buffalo rifle shoot? Just down the road from Miles City is Forsyth, home to the "Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match" where over 500 entrants take aim at steel targets nearly half-a-mile away. Many of the contestants use original Sharps rifles and others use modern replicas, but all are black powder muzzle- or breech-loaders that require a sure eye and steady nerves. Inspired by the movie "Quigley Down Under," starring Tom Selleck, the event, which takes place on the weekend of Father's Day each year, draws many who dress in old west attire and live and work in tents reminiscent of frontier times. The Rosebud County Museum in Forsyth is a good place to take a step back in time, with exhibits that include railroad, mining and ranching history. The downtown section of Forsyth include lots of 19th century buildings like the Howdy Hotel, temporary home to weary travelers for over 100 years and still owned by descendants of the original owners.
Interesting architecture abounds in Custer Country, but none is more unusual or seemingly out-of-place than the Yucca theater in downtown Hysham, just 25 miles west of Forsyth. The theater was built in the 1920s and is reminiscent of the adobe haciendas of the Southwest. It served as a movie theater for many years, but is today part of the Treasure County Museum and is the occasional home to live plays. Outside the theater are life-sized concrete sculptures of William Clark, Sacagawea and another of the hardy souls who were part of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, along with that of a white buffalo by the same local artist.
Clark's exploration of the Yellowstone River, which ambles across the breadth of Custer Country and is the longest undamed river in the country, made one particular sandstone formation along its shores forever famous. He wrote in his journal that he came upon a "remarkable rock,....200 feet high and 400 paces around,..." upon which he carved his name and the date, "Wm. Clark, July 25, 1806." This signature is the only physical evidence of the famous journey still visible along the trail. Visitors can climb the stairway to view the famous signature and then continue up the stairs to the top of what Clark named Pompeys Tower (today known as Pompeys Pillar) to enjoy the same magnificent view that Clark himself marveled at 200 years ago.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument is now the home of a brand new Interpretive Center, dedicated in 2006 during the Clark on the Yellowstone National Signature Event. The $7 million center features a vaulted ceiling, glassed-in walls that offer a breath-taking view of the Pillar and a stone path that replicates the Yellowstone River and shows the sites of importance along its meandering path. Anyone who has ever wondered about the adventures of Lewis and Clark should put this at the top of their list of places to visit.
On the way to Billings, the visitor interested in history can stop at the Huntley Project Museum in Huntley. The town is named after the Huntley Irrigation Project of the 1930s that created a system of water delivery to area farms that today enables the area to be one of the most agriculturally diverse and productive in Montana. The museum is dedicated to the history of the project that would prove to be essential to the economic well-being of the area.
Billings, where I-90 joins I-94, is Montana's largest city and the proof is in the wide range of cultural amenities to be found there. The city features a symphony, an opera company and three legitimate theaters, along with minor league professional hockey, football and baseball teams. Billings is the home to ZooMontana, which features a tiger, the rare red panda, a petting zoo and animals such as wolves, badgers and the endangered black-footed ferret, and a beautiful botanical garden.
Moss Mansion is also one of the hidden treasures of Billings. Built in 1901 by one of Billings' early entrepreneurs, it is four stories of elegance, restored to much of its original glory. Volunteers offer year-round guided tours of the mansion, which was designed by the same architect as the Waldorf-Astoria and Plaza hotels in New York City.
The Yellowstone Art Museum in downtown Billings offers visitors an ever-changing series of traveling exhibits, plus permanent collections that include works by Charles Russell, Will James and Ted Waddell. The museum features both traditional Western art as well as contemporary modern art by Montana artists. There are as many as 12 different exhibits each year, so there's sure to be something new on each visit.
History in Billings is covered by the Western Heritage Center on historic Montana Avenue and the Yellowstone County Museum atop the picturesque Billings Rims. Stop by to enjoy the 125th Billings Anniversary exhibit at the Western Heritage Center from spring 2007 through mid-2008.
Original art can be viewed and purchased in Billings' Art District on Montana and Minnesota Avenues downtown. Just strolling along these streets is like a walk into the past, but with a twist. Many of the 19th century buildings are essentially unchanged on the outside, but offer interior remodeling that pays homage to the city's past. Painters', sculptors', ceramicists' and other artisans' works can be viewed at places like the Toucan Gallery, Rue d'Artistes and MacIntosh Art.
But the downtown area is also the place to be to enjoy fine dining, entertainment and night life. There are restaurants to suit every palate, cafes that are easy on the pocketbook and coffee shops that offer friendly surroundings and pleasant conversation. Just a few blocks away from Montana Avenue, you'll find candy shops featuring the finest chocolate treats this side of Godiva's, and Western Wear shops where you can purchase everything from cowboy bandanas to full western ensembles. And, you'll like the prices, since Montana has no state sales tax.
What about lodging in "The Magic City?" Downtown features plenty of opportunities, from mom-and-pop motels to full-service hotels. Or, if you prefer, you can choose lodging on the bustling West End of Billings, where you'll find gleaming new properties to suit any budget, more shopping and lots more places to eat.
After leaving Billings, you'll find yourself in Laurel, the crossroads to Yellowstone Park. Laurel is also home to the Canyon Creek Wayside Interpretive Shelter, commemorating the battle between the Nez Perce and the U.S. Cavalry. Part of the National Park Service's Nez Perce Trail, it tells the story of Chief Joseph's legendary 1300 mile attempt to lead his people from their reservation in northern Oregon to freedom in Canada in 1877 as told in Merrill D. Beals "I Will Fight No More Forever: Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce War." This is a great place to experience the history and heartbreak of their unsuccessful trek.
After your visit to the memorial, take Highway 212 south to Yellowstone National Park. Wherever your final destination, it's worth your time to stop in Custer Country to take in some of these great attractions, which are all just minutes from the interstate. Stop, stretch your legs, enjoy a good meal or spend a day digging for history or fossils. It's all in Custer Country.
For more information about the places mentioned in this article, visit www.CusterCountry.com
When most people think of Montana, two places come immediately to mind: Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks. That's only natural, since "Montana" is Spanish for "mountains" and rumor has it there are a few mountains in each of those parks.But looking at a map of the state will tell you that only 1/3 of Montana is mountainous. So what about the other 2/3? What's there to do? Contrary to what some might think, there is plenty of beauty, history and entertainment in eastern Montana, no matter what your area of interest. And, who knows, maybe stopping at some of the lesser-known cities and towns in eastern Montana will help you create a new interest. Custer Country is one of six tourism regions in Montana and is comprised of over 36,000 square miles in southeast Montana, consisting of ever-changing landscapes, from prairies to haunting sandstone formations to rugged mountains, and you're invited to come see what you've been missing.
Here are some suggestions for what to do and what to see in Custer Country. After all, everyone needs a break, and after reading about the lesser-known attractions in eastern Montana, your passengers might consider a bus hijacking to get you to stop.
Interstate 94 through Custer Country offers lots of interesting attractions, whether your interest is history, science or culture. Let us take you on a tour of some places you'll want to consider including in your next itinerary.
As you enter Montana from the eastern border, the first town you come to is Wibaux (pronounced wee-bow), named after Pierre Wibaux, a French nobleman who came to Montana in 1883 to seek his fortune by raising cattle. He succeeded, having accumulated as many as 40,000 head, making Wibaux one of the largest shipping points in the country for a time. Today, you can visit the home he built, which is now part of the Wibaux County Museum, or the statue he commissioned to be erected after his death.
Wibaux is also home to one of the most unusual churches you'll ever see. Originally built in 1895, St. Peter's Catholic Church was later given a facade of lava rock. While it gets only limited use today, it is a photographic opportunity not to be missed. Conveniently, all of this is less than a mile from the Wibaux Visitors Center, which has bathrooms, information and wireless internet.
Glendive is just 35 miles west of Wibaux and offers some interesting places to stop. Paleontology is becoming a popular hobby for people young and old and Glendive offers more than the usual displays. The town is one of 15 stops on the recently-formed Montana Dinosaur Trail and offers two museums and a state park that are devoted to the study of paleontology. Makoshika State Park is Montana's largest state park, and makes an interesting side trip for those who are interested in how the last of the dinosaurs lived and why this area has become one of the "hottest" areas in the world for the study of prehistoric life. The park features an interpretive center featuring exhibits of several fossils that were discovered in its 11, 265 acres.
Glendive's two dinosaur museums, the Makoshika Dinosaur Museum downtown and the Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil Museum, both offer impressive displays of fossils and full-size replicas of the creatures who roamed the earth long ago, but they take two different approaches to earth's creation and geological history. Makoshika Dinosaur Museum adheres to the most widely-held theory that the earth is hundreds of millions of years old, while the Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil Museum takes a creationist's look at the world of dinosaurs. A trip to both gives the visitor a lot to think about.Glendive is not just known for its Dinosaurs alone, however. Bridger Bronze is located downtown and offers the visitor a great opportunity to view and purchase original bronze-cast sculptures from miniatures to life-size. Sculptors Pamela Harr and Harvey Rattey offer insight and information on how the finished sculptures are designed and cast. Glendive also offers lodging, restaurants and shopping for those who wish to spend more time in this great little city on the Yellowstone. And let's not forget that famous army officer by the name William Clark, who first documented the many sights of this area during his return in 1806.
Photography is still one of the favorite pursuits of Custer Country's visitors, but the work of one famous photographer from 1894 - 1928 is now considered historically important. Lady Evelyn Cameron came to the tiny community of Terry, half way between Glendive and Miles City to ranch and raise polo ponies for export to her native England. She and her naturalist husband, Ewen, had limited success in that venture, so Evelyn began taking photos to supplement their income. She eventually took 1000s of pictures of wildlife, people and places in the open prairies of the badlands. Her work was almost lost to the world until hundreds of her glass negatives were found in the basement of her best friend in the 1970s, 50 years after Evelyn's death. Donna Lucey, who discovered the plates and pointed out their historical significance, wrote a book about the life of Evelyn Cameron entitled, "Photographing Montana 1894-1928: The Life and Work of Evelyn Cameron," which was later used as a basis for a PBS documentary entitled, Evelyn Cameron, Pictures from a Worthy Life. Visitors can see much of the same scenery that Evelyn loved to photograph, very much unchanged from then 'til now.
Miles City, which bills itself as "The Cowboy Capitol of Montana" is certainly deserving of the title. It was the "end of the trail" for cattle being driven up from Texas to be shipped off to the Chicago and New York markets in the 1850s to 1860s. The book by Larry McMurtry, Lonesome Dove, and the made-for-TV movie based upon it, were set partly in Miles City. The fictional Texas Ranger Gus McCrae breathed his last in Miles City, and some of the beautiful homes and downtown buildings may take your breath away as well. There is probably not another city in eastern Montana that offers more historic homes than does Miles City. Many of the cattle barons built beautifully ostentatious homes along Main Street. Many of them have been meticulously maintained and are listed on the Historic Registry.Art buffs and history aficionados will also enjoy Miles City. The town was originally the site of Fort Keogh, and was commanded by General Nelson A. Miles, whose command included a gentleman by the name of Lt. Col. George A. Custer, who would later participate in the most famous military battle in history, the Battle of the Little Bighorn, otherwise known as "Custer's Last Stand." The Rangeriders Museum in Miles City includes many artifacts from the days of Fort Keogh and the events leading up to the Little Bighorn, but also helps tell the story of the struggle to settle the west, including the bloody conflict between the "open range" ranchers and those who wanted to fence off the land for farming. The museum has one of the most extensive gun collections in the country and includes a reconstruction of what Miles City looked like back in the late 1800s, when cattlemen ruled.
Miles City is also the home of the Miles City Art and Heritage Center. Housed in the huge concrete cisterns that once were part of the city's water works, the art center is part museum and part modern art gallery, with permanent displays featuring artists such as J.K. Ralston and William Standing, photography exhibits including photos by E.S Curtis, L.A. Huffman and Evelyn Cameron, and traveling exhibits of ceramics, water and oil paintings and quilts. There is something here for every art lover and there is always something new, no matter how many times one visits.
Not to be overlooked is the World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale held in May of each year. This event brings visitors from around the world to witness one of the great events in American rodeo. The meanest horses and the toughest riders converge on Miles City once a year determined to challenge the age-old maxim, "There ain't a horse that can't be rode, and there ain't a cowboy that can't be throwed." Sellers bring their best bucking stock and buyers bid on them to add to their strings of horses that may well end up performing in the biggest rodeo of them all, the National Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada. This event is so popular that reservations need to be made at least a year in advance, but if you're passing through, it's fun to stop and take in the events that accompany it, including the farmer's market, the Western Art Quick Draw, barbeques and ice cream socials.
Speaking of world-class events, how about the world's largest buffalo rifle shoot? Just down the road from Miles City is Forsyth, home to the "Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match" where over 500 entrants take aim at steel targets nearly half-a-mile away. Many of the contestants use original Sharps rifles and others use modern replicas, but all are black powder muzzle- or breech-loaders that require a sure eye and steady nerves. Inspired by the movie "Quigley Down Under," starring Tom Selleck, the event, which takes place on the weekend of Father's Day each year, draws many who dress in old west attire and live and work in tents reminiscent of frontier times. The Rosebud County Museum in Forsyth is a good place to take a step back in time, with exhibits that include railroad, mining and ranching history. The downtown section of Forsyth include lots of 19th century buildings like the Howdy Hotel, temporary home to weary travelers for over 100 years and still owned by descendants of the original owners.
Interesting architecture abounds in Custer Country, but none is more unusual or seemingly out-of-place than the Yucca theater in downtown Hysham, just 25 miles west of Forsyth. The theater was built in the 1920s and is reminiscent of the adobe haciendas of the Southwest. It served as a movie theater for many years, but is today part of the Treasure County Museum and is the occasional home to live plays. Outside the theater are life-sized concrete sculptures of William Clark, Sacagawea and another of the hardy souls who were part of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, along with that of a white buffalo by the same local artist.
Clark's exploration of the Yellowstone River, which ambles across the breadth of Custer Country and is the longest undamed river in the country, made one particular sandstone formation along its shores forever famous. He wrote in his journal that he came upon a "remarkable rock,....200 feet high and 400 paces around,..." upon which he carved his name and the date, "Wm. Clark, July 25, 1806." This signature is the only physical evidence of the famous journey still visible along the trail. Visitors can climb the stairway to view the famous signature and then continue up the stairs to the top of what Clark named Pompeys Tower (today known as Pompeys Pillar) to enjoy the same magnificent view that Clark himself marveled at 200 years ago.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument is now the home of a brand new Interpretive Center, dedicated in 2006 during the Clark on the Yellowstone National Signature Event. The $7 million center features a vaulted ceiling, glassed-in walls that offer a breath-taking view of the Pillar and a stone path that replicates the Yellowstone River and shows the sites of importance along its meandering path. Anyone who has ever wondered about the adventures of Lewis and Clark should put this at the top of their list of places to visit.
On the way to Billings, the visitor interested in history can stop at the Huntley Project Museum in Huntley. The town is named after the Huntley Irrigation Project of the 1930s that created a system of water delivery to area farms that today enables the area to be one of the most agriculturally diverse and productive in Montana. The museum is dedicated to the history of the project that would prove to be essential to the economic well-being of the area.
Billings, where I-90 joins I-94, is Montana's largest city and the proof is in the wide range of cultural amenities to be found there. The city features a symphony, an opera company and three legitimate theaters, along with minor league professional hockey, football and baseball teams. Billings is the home to ZooMontana, which features a tiger, the rare red panda, a petting zoo and animals such as wolves, badgers and the endangered black-footed ferret, and a beautiful botanical garden.
Moss Mansion is also one of the hidden treasures of Billings. Built in 1901 by one of Billings' early entrepreneurs, it is four stories of elegance, restored to much of its original glory. Volunteers offer year-round guided tours of the mansion, which was designed by the same architect as the Waldorf-Astoria and Plaza hotels in New York City.
The Yellowstone Art Museum in downtown Billings offers visitors an ever-changing series of traveling exhibits, plus permanent collections that include works by Charles Russell, Will James and Ted Waddell. The museum features both traditional Western art as well as contemporary modern art by Montana artists. There are as many as 12 different exhibits each year, so there's sure to be something new on each visit.
History in Billings is covered by the Western Heritage Center on historic Montana Avenue and the Yellowstone County Museum atop the picturesque Billings Rims. Stop by to enjoy the 125th Billings Anniversary exhibit at the Western Heritage Center from spring 2007 through mid-2008.
Original art can be viewed and purchased in Billings' Art District on Montana and Minnesota Avenues downtown. Just strolling along these streets is like a walk into the past, but with a twist. Many of the 19th century buildings are essentially unchanged on the outside, but offer interior remodeling that pays homage to the city's past. Painters', sculptors', ceramicists' and other artisans' works can be viewed at places like the Toucan Gallery, Rue d'Artistes and MacIntosh Art.
But the downtown area is also the place to be to enjoy fine dining, entertainment and night life. There are restaurants to suit every palate, cafes that are easy on the pocketbook and coffee shops that offer friendly surroundings and pleasant conversation. Just a few blocks away from Montana Avenue, you'll find candy shops featuring the finest chocolate treats this side of Godiva's, and Western Wear shops where you can purchase everything from cowboy bandanas to full western ensembles. And, you'll like the prices, since Montana has no state sales tax.
What about lodging in "The Magic City?" Downtown features plenty of opportunities, from mom-and-pop motels to full-service hotels. Or, if you prefer, you can choose lodging on the bustling West End of Billings, where you'll find gleaming new properties to suit any budget, more shopping and lots more places to eat.
After leaving Billings, you'll find yourself in Laurel, the crossroads to Yellowstone Park. Laurel is also home to the Canyon Creek Wayside Interpretive Shelter, commemorating the battle between the Nez Perce and the U.S. Cavalry. Part of the National Park Service's Nez Perce Trail, it tells the story of Chief Joseph's legendary 1300 mile attempt to lead his people from their reservation in northern Oregon to freedom in Canada in 1877 as told in Merrill D. Beals "I Will Fight No More Forever: Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce War." This is a great place to experience the history and heartbreak of their unsuccessful trek.
After your visit to the memorial, take Highway 212 south to Yellowstone National Park. Wherever your final destination, it's worth your time to stop in Custer Country to take in some of these great attractions, which are all just minutes from the interstate. Stop, stretch your legs, enjoy a good meal or spend a day digging for history or fossils. It's all in Custer Country.
For more information about the places mentioned in this article, visit www.CusterCountry.com
or call 1-800-346-1876 to order a free Custer Country Vacation Guide.
