A couple of sites come to mind. In Eastern MT, 10-15 miles south of the town of Chinook is the Bearpaw battlefield nat. Historic site. This is the site of the last battle of the Nez Perce war, where Chief Joseph finally surrendered, jus short of his effort to join Sitting Bull in Canada. Good interpretation here.
The Museum of the Palins Indian at Browning MT is outstanding.
The Nez Perce National Historic Park is actually a series of places along the Nez perce Trail but the Museum at Spalding ID is small but outstanding.
There are many powwows held thoughput the west - all summer. Google will give you a schedule.
It sounds like you are essentially following the route of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Have the boys read about it and visit the tribes that they encountered along the way. It was a pretty amazing time in the development of our country ~200 years ago.
We drove through the Big Horn area last year on vacation. It is well worth the stop. We just went into the area on our own. They have plaques along the way describing the battle.
Here are a couple of pics we took.
Linda B.
2009 29' Fleetwood, Fiesta V10 - The Big Bus
2008 Saturn Vue (Toad)with US Gear UBS
& Demco baseplate and tow bar.
Traveling with Robin(friend),Liz(cockapoo)&Buddee(cavalier)
The Museum of The Plains Indian(Correct Title???) in Cody Wyo is world class. Driving through any reservation in the moutain west gives a good feeling for the areas to which Native Americans were driven.
The Little Bighorn Battlefield is on the Crow Indian reservation. We've been there many times and it is/was a very moving experience. If you plan on being there during the reenactment, reservations are a must. We've stayed at the 7th RV Ranch park adjacent to the battlefield, and at the Hardin KOA and Grandview RV park in Hardin.
I don't know if this is an annual event, but while we were there, the Crow Indians had a large powwow, may have been called "Crow Homecoming," don't remember. The powwow site is just across the street from the entrance to the battlefield.
There also was a parade in Hardin, with various vendors set up in town.
GM
2000 Southwind Storm 34N Tin Teepee
Jeep Cherokee toad
Enrolled member of the Comanche Tribe
English Bride
Bichon Frise bear killers:
Lord Shonefeld von Reginald-Friese IV.
Lady Annabelle von Lichenstein-Friese III.
Following is my experience after my first visit to the battlefield.
***
The Little Big Horn
Two weeks ago, I toured the Little Big Horn Battlefield site in Montana. As a Native American, I approached that visit with some trepidation, knowing full well the history of the place. I first toured the museum, seeing artifacts and memorabilia from an era of the past. Weapons and bits of weapons, uniforms, pictures, a saddle, bridle - an interesting look into the life of a cavalryman on the American frontier of the late 1800s. Not much there about the Indian, which is not surprising since the Sioux, the Cheyenne and the Arapaho removed their dead and the accoutrements of war from the battlefield.
On the far wall of the museum is a hugh oil painting depicting what the battlefield may have looked like after the last cavalryman lay dead - a scene of plains Indians enjoying the spoils of war. Not necessarily a pretty site, but perhaps a factual representation.
From the museum, I walked through the rolling hills of the actual battle ground. In every direction, there were solitary white grave markers - most of them stating only "A US Cavalryman died here on June 25, 1876." I was surprised at the number of civilians among the dead.
There were no grave markers for the Indians who died here, which is understandable since the Indians removed their dead.
There is a monument on top of what is called "Last Stand Hill." The enlisted soldiers who died at the Little Big Horn are buried in a mass grave under this large granite reminder. The officers are buried in various cemeteries nationwide. George Armstrong Custer is buried at West Point.
Just down the hill from this monument is another reminder, this one to the Native Americans who died at the battle on the Greasy Grass River. This monument, only dedicated last week on the anniversary of the battle, gives tribute to some 100 Indians who fought and died that day. Sioux, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Arikara, even the Crow who were scouts for the army are listed. This monument looks upward toward the other monument, a silent tribute from one fallen warrior to another.
As I walked these hills, I could close my eyes and hear the sound of gunfire, hear the cries of the dead and dying, smell gunpowder, smell the sweat and fear of the participants. Brave men died here, over 200 members of the US Cavalry and about 100 Plains Indians. Both soldiers and Indians died for a cause they believed in. As the last sounds of battle ended, the blood of red man and white man intermingled and soaked into the thirsty ground. No one could tell which was red man's blood and which was white man's blood.
I came away with a sense of awe and humility. As I left, I rendered a silent salute to all who died this day one hundred and twenty seven years ago.
On this Fourth of July, I will render another salute - a salute to warriors everywhere who had a part in making this nation what it is today.
The Knife River villages northwest of Bismark, ND and the Mandan earthen village at Ft Lincoln State park (ND) are two very good places to learn about ancient plains people culture.
As the gentleman indicated in the earlier posts, Little Bighorn (MT) is a very spiritual place that represents a difficult time in our country's history. It is well worth visiting and paying your respects.
Spending a night in teepee has little or nothing to do with learning about plains people's culture. That is simply recreation. The State Museum and Heritage Center in Bismark has good exhibits on plains culture that probably includes a teepee exhibit.
"Spending a night in teepee has little or nothing to do with learning about plains people's culture. That is simply recreation. The State Museum and Heritage Center in Bismark has good exhibits on plains culture that probably includes a teepee exhibit."
Agreed, however the children may enjoy it -- and I believe that's what vacations are for, enjoyment!
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