Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

11/06/2026

Across the National Park System, memorials, monuments and historic landscapes preserve the stories of those who served and sacrificed. From the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and World War II Memorial to the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Pearl Harbor National Memorial and the newly dedicated Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial, these places invite us to reflect on the people behind the history.

Beyond the memorials, historic battlefields, military forts and other sites across the country help tell the stories of generations who served. On Veterans Day, take time to visit a place of remembrance, discover a story you didn't know, and honor those who served.

Explore places that commemorate America's military history: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/veterans-day.htm

Image: Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial Raptors in Flight. NPS/Brodsky

11/06/2026

11/05/2026

The histories, cultures, and living traditions of Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islander communities are an important part of the stories told across our national parks.

Throughout the year, and during November’s Native American Heritage Month, explore the stories, places, and cultural heritage preserved and shared in national parks and communities across the country: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/native-american-heritage-month.htm

NPS Photo

11/04/2026

It’s leaf-peeping season. The trees have made an effort, so the least we can do is go outside and stare at them.

Leaf peeping is the ancient human tradition of traveling long distances to look at leaves, take photographs, and stand in the middle of roads while saying, “Oh, wow, look at that one.”

Nobody knows exactly when this became a major event, but the trees seem okay with the arrangement. So get out there and see what all the rustle is about.

NPS photos

11/04/2026

As Veterans Day approaches, take a moment to honor those who have served our country. One way to celebrate their service is by helping them discover the places and stories that make our nation's public lands special.

U.S. military veterans and Gold Star Families are eligible for a free America the Beautiful Military Lifetime Pass, providing free access to federal recreation lands where entrance or standard amenity fees are charged.

From the quiet beauty of a mountain trail to the stories preserved at historic sites, our public lands offer opportunities to explore, reflect, learn, and connect with the places that help tell America's story.

Learn how to get your pass and start planning your next adventure: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/veterans-and-gold-star-families-free-access.htm

Image: Korean War Veterans Memorial at National Mall & Memorial Parks /NPS

11/02/2026

Hello darkness, my old friend. Now you start at 5:00 pm.

With daylight saving time behind us, the sun is clocking out a littler earlier. Just as before, if you’re heading to a national park, make sure and check park hours, trail conditions, weather forecasts, and sunset times.

Fun fact: admiring fall foliage is much more enjoyable when you’re not trying to navigate a trail in the dark while wondering which tree looks familiar.

NPS photo

11/02/2026

11/02/2026

🦋 Imagine flying thousands of miles to make it home for a family reunion. Monarch butterflies do it every year.

Every fall, two journeys come together. As millions of monarch butterflies travel south on one of nature's greatest migrations, families gather to honor loved ones during Day of the Dead or Día de los Mu***os.

For many communities, the arrival of the monarchs is more than a sign of the changing season. These butterflies are seen as messengers, symbolizing the return of loved ones in spirit and serving as a beautiful reminder of the enduring connections between generations.

Traveling thousands of miles across North America, they depend on healthy habitats, including in parks, to rest, feed, and continue their journey.

What animal makes you feel connected to your family or community?

Several parks across the country host cultural Day of the Dead programming, including San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, among others.

NPS Photo taken at Amistad National Recreation Area

11/02/2026

Día de los Mu***os, or Day of the Dead, is a centuries-old tradition that honors the lives of loved ones who have passed. Its roots stretch back to Indigenous cultures of Mesoamerica, where ancestors were remembered through ritual, art, and celebration. When the Spanish arrived in what is now Texas, these native customs merged with Catholic traditions like All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day; creating the vibrant holiday we know today.

At San Antonio Missions, you can see this cultural fusion come to life. From colorful altars adorned with marigolds and candles to music, food, and stories, the park reflects how Spanish and Indigenous traditions shaped communities along the San Antonio River.

Come explore mission descendant ofrendas/ Day of the Dead altars while they are still inside the Mission San Jose granary for a few more days!

NPS Photo/ Andrew Shirey

10/31/2026

This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Pumpkins* scream in the dead of night!

Happy Halloween!

*No pumpkins have been observed screaming in national parks. You may be hearing a coyote, bobcat, fox, owl, or that marmot looking for Alan…or was it Steve?

Image: Boo! Carved jack-o’-lantern with ranger hat at Hartwell Tavern at Minute Man National Historical Park

10/27/2026

“Of course during the 36 hours that we were in suspense, we had neither water nor food.” — Charles DeRudio, New York Herald, July 30, 1876

Charles DeRudio’s journey to the Battle of the Little Bighorn was as remarkable as the battle itself. An Italian aristocrat, DeRudio eventually made his way to the United States and became a career U.S. Army officer. By June 1876, he was serving as a lieutenant in the 7th U.S. Cavalry.

On June 25, DeRudio was with Company A in Major Marcus Reno’s battalion when the soldiers crossed the Little Bighorn River and advanced toward the enormous Lakota and Cheyenne encampment. After dismounting, the cavalrymen formed a skirmish line as warriors rushed to defend their homes. As the pressure mounted, Reno ordered his men to retreat across the Little Bighorn river. During the withdrawal, DeRudio lost his horse and became separated from the command. He and Private Thomas O’Neill were left behind in the timber on the western bank of the river alongside the Native encampment.

For the next 36 hours, the two soldiers hid, alternating between hope and despair. They had no food or water and faced the constant danger of being discovered. DeRudio later recalled several frightening encounters with Native people near their hiding place. Finally, in the early morning hours of June 27, DeRudio and O’Neill made their way across the river and reached Reno and Benteen’s command on the bluffs above the Little Bighorn.

A month later, DeRudio recounted his experience to the New York Herald. His account provides a rare glimpse into the fear, uncertainty, and desperation experienced by soldiers who became separated during the battle. His story is not simply one of combat. It is a story of survival, courage, resilience and 36 hours spent wondering if he would live to tell about it.

📷: Courtesy of the National Park Service, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, LIBI_00011_07102, D F. Barry, "Captain Charles Derudio in Full Dress Uniform," circa 1883

10/14/2026

No ifs, ands or burrow about it: It’s a Prairie Dog Town

Keep your eyes peeled as you approach the entrance gate to the Little Bighorn Battlefield for the black-tailed prairie dog “town.” Although not often seen within the boundaries of the park, there are several colonies nearby on adjacent private land.

These adorable, playful “barking squirrels”, as Meriwether Lewis called them in 1804, are actually a type of ground squirrel in the order of Rodentia. The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys Ludovicianus) seen at the park is only one of five species in North America.

The prairie dog “town” is a complex form of underground burrows located deep in the ground that provide protection from weather and predators. Colonies are divided into family groups called coteries. Each colony has multiple tight-knit coteries that constantly communicate in distinctive barks and yips.

Where there are prairie dogs, the prairie ecosystem is balanced and diverse. Prairie Dogs are keystone species because they have a disproportionately large effect on the communities in which they occur. Large Prairie Dog towns provide disturbance through grazing, burrowing, and clipping vegetation, shaping habitats for an abundance of other prairie organisms. As populations continue to decline, this could negatively affect the overall ecosystem.

So, the next time you see a prairie dog popping up from its burrow, take a moment to watch and listen. That little “barking squirrel” is an important part of natural landscape at Little Bighorn Battlefield!

📷NPS Photo

10/02/2026

Do you love history, interacting with a variety of people, and working outside? Join the Little Bighorn National Monument team for the 2027 season!

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument is hiring Visitor Use Technicians and Park Ranger (Interpretation) positions for the 2027 Summer Season! Apply through USAJobs.gov - positions will open this Monday, October 5th and will close once the applicant cap is reached or October 12th, whichever comes sooner.

Rangers in the Seasonal Park Ranger (Interpretation) provide public programming to visitors through roving and formal talks. They also answer questions at the visitor center and assist with special events.

Visitor Use Technicians staff the fee booth collecting entry fees and provide orientation information to the public.

Both positions work as part of the same team to provide excellent customer service and share the important history and relevance of the Battle of Little Bighorn / Greasy Grass with the public.

Be ready to work with a fantastic team interacting with the public in a physically engaging outdoor work environment!

09/28/2026

“We had killed soldiers who had come to kill us.” — Wooden Leg, Northern Cheyenne warrior

These words, displayed on the Cheyenne Tribal Panel at the Native American Memorial, reflect the perspective of Wooden Leg, who was just 18 years old during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

On the morning of June 25, 1876, Wooden Leg and his brother, Yellow Hair, awoke to warnings that U.S. soldiers were approaching their village. Joining hundreds of other Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors defending their families, Wooden Leg first fought against Major Marcus Reno's battalion near the Little Bighorn River. Later, after Reno's retreat, he moved north toward the fighting involving Lt. Col. George A. Custer's command.

Decades later, Wooden Leg shared his memories with Dr. Thomas B. Marquis. Working closely with Northern Cheyenne elders and other participants, Marquis helped preserve one of the most complete firsthand Native accounts of the battle. His recollections provide invaluable insight into how the events of June 25–26, 1876, were experienced by a young Cheyenne warrior.

The quotation on the memorial reminds us that the Battle of the Little Bighorn was viewed differently by those who fought there. Visiting the Native American Memorial offers an opportunity to learn from multiple perspectives and to reflect on the human experiences that shaped this defining moment in American history.

09/19/2026

Do you enjoy looking at bugs? Learning about plants? Or just enjoying being outside? We have a volunteer opportunity for you!

In one week, on September 26, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument will host a BioBlitz Hike in celebration of National Public Lands Day. Join a member of staff on a guided hike down Deep Ravine Trail. Come and learn about some of the biodiversity that inhabits the park while contributing to the iNaturalist Project.

The hike is limited to the first 15 people who sign up to be a volunteer. To sign up, please visit: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/keBBXbe4Cb

For more information about the event, please visit: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volopprecord?listing=a09SJ00000QZZjtYAH

📷: NPS/ LIBI

09/14/2026

Have you met one of Little Bighorn's fluffiest residents?

Mountain Cottontails (Sylvilagus nuttallii) are year-round residents of Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, and they're often one of the first wild animals visitors notice. You might spot one quietly grazing near the visitor center, along the Last Stand Hill Trail, in Custer National Cemetery, or disappearing into the sagebrush with a flash of its signature white "cotton" tail.

These medium-sized rabbits grow to about 14–15 inches long and weigh just 2–3 pounds. Their grayish-tan fur, reddish legs, and black-tipped ears help them blend into the monument's grasslands and sagebrush-covered hillsides. Rather than digging burrows, Mountain Cottontails depend on thick shrubs and grasses for shelter from predators like coyotes, foxes, hawks, and eagles.

They're most active during the cool hours of dawn and dusk, when they venture out to nibble on native grasses, sagebrush, juniper, and other plants. During spring and early summer, lucky visitors may even catch a glimpse of young kits tucked safely away in a well-hidden nest.

As tempting as it may be, the kindest thing you can do is simply enjoy these wild rabbits from a distance. Their natural diet provides everything they need, and keeping them wild helps them stay healthy and behave naturally.

So the next time you see one of these adorable little neighbors, pause for a moment, snap a photo, and let it continue its day. You wouldn't your nap or meal interrupted, and neither do these fluffy residents of the monument.

📹: NPS M. McFarland

Alt Text: A short video shows a cottontail rabbit in a field of grass eating a plant.

09/03/2026

Edward S. Godfrey: Soldier, Survivor, Historian

On January 1892, First Lieutenant Edward Settle Godfrey reflected on what he witnessed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn:

"The scene was one of indescribable confusion... We could see hundreds of Indians riding in a circle around the doomed five companies."
— Edward S. Godfrey, "Custer's Last Battle," The Century Magazine, January 1892

On June 25–26, 1876, Lieutenant Edward Settle Godfrey commanded Company K of the 7th Cavalry. Rather than riding with George A. Custer's five companies, Godfrey was with Captain Frederick Benteen's battalion and the soldiers who joined Major Marcus Reno on the bluffs overlooking the Little Bighorn River. Throughout the afternoon, evening, and the following day, they defended their position against repeated attacks by Lakota and Cheyenne warriors.

Sixteen years later, Godfrey published Custer's Last Battle, one of the most detailed first-hand accounts written by a surviving officer. His article described the terrain, troop movements, and the desperate defense of the Reno-Benteen position while also recounting what survivors believed they had seen happening to Custer's battalion in the distance.

Godfrey's military career spanned more than four decades. He served in nearly every major campaign of the Plains Indian Wars, received the Medal of Honor for extraordinary bravery at the Battle of Bear Paw during the Nez Perce War, later served in the Spanish-American War and the Philippines, and retired as a brigadier general in 1907.

Today, Godfrey's writings remain an important historical source. Like all first-hand accounts, they reflect the experiences and perspective of one participant, helping historians piece together the complex events of June 25–26, 1876.

Lt. Godfrey would be a continuing presence at the Battle of Little Bighorn. He was a key individual and participant of the 10th and 50th Anniversary Commemorations of the battle, helping shaped how generations understood this significant event.

📷: Courtesy of the National Park Service, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, LIBI_00012_01930, Thomas B Marquis, "Edward Settle Godfrey, Henry G. Rice, and James Faristell," 1926

08/30/2026

Limited Volunteer Opportunity!

In celebration of National Public Lands Day, Little Bighorn Battlefield will host a BioBlitz Hike. Join a member of staff on September 26th, from 9 am to 12 pm, on a guided hike down Deep Ravine trail. Volunteers will learn about some of the biodiversity at Little Bighorn Battlefield while contributing to Little Bighorn iNaturalist Project.

The hike is limited to the first 15 people who sign up to be a volunteer. To sign up, please visit: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/keBBXbe4Cb

For more information about the event, please visit: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volopprecord?listing=a09SJ00000QZZjtYAH

08/25/2026

A Song Across the Battlefield: The Western Meadowlark

A familiar sound echoes across the open grasslands of Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. The beautiful, flute-like song of the Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta).

These striking birds are year-round residents of the shortgrass prairie and can often be heard near Custer National Cemetery and Last Stand Hill. With their bright yellow breasts, distinctive black “V” markings, and powerful voices, meadowlarks are one of the most recognizable birds of the Northern Plains.

The monument’s wide-open rolling grasslands provide the perfect habitat for these prairie birds. Look for them perched on fence posts, shrubs, or even grave markers as they sing to defend their territories. When they are not singing, meadowlarks spend much of their time on the ground, searching for insects, seeds, and wild berries.

Late spring and early summer offer the best opportunity to hear their songs and observe their behaviors, but these prairie residents can be spotted throughout the year.

The next time you visit Little Bighorn, listen closely. The prairie also has a story to tell.

📷: Macaulay Library, CLO, Yeray Seminaralo

08/13/2026

The Note That Became History

At approximately 2:45 p.m. on June 25, 1876, Adjutant Lt. William W. Cooke hastily penned one of the most famous messages in American military history. Acting on Lt. Col. George A. Custer's orders, Cooke handed the note to Italian-born trumpeter Giovanni (John) Martini, who rode through dangerous terrain in search of Capt. Frederick Benteen.

The message was brief but urgent:

"Benteen. Come on. Big village. Be quick. Bring packs." P.S. "Bring packs."

By this point, Custer had seen the enormous Lakota and Cheyenne encampment and recognized that his command faced a much larger force than anticipated. The "packs" referred to the mule train carrying the 7th Cavalry's reserve am******on. These supplies could prove critical in the fighting ahead.

Knowing Martini's English was limited, Cooke wrote the order rather than relying solely on verbal instructions. During his ride, Martini's horse was shot in the hip, but he completed his mission and delivered the message to Benteen.

Benteen ultimately joined Major Marcus Reno's embattled command on the bluffs instead of continuing directly toward Custer. The combined force held its position until relief arrived on June 27. Martini's assignment also spared him from the fate of Custer's battalion, making him one of the last men to leave Custer alive.

Today, Cooke's original handwritten note is preserved at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Although a small piece of paper that could have been lost to time, it continues to inspire questions about leadership, communication, and decision-making during one of the most studied battles in American history.

📷: NPS Image