The Crow Reservation is where tradition and culture are a way of life, passed on from generation to generation. It has an area of 3,565 square miles, and consists of five main communities: Wyola, Lodge Grass, Garryowen, Crow Agency, and St. Xavier/Fort Smith.
There is a tribal community college there, called Little Big Horn College. It has an extensive library, and Crow Archives, which is a tourism region. It offers visitors and tourists catered local and cultural activities and tour packages.
Each year, the Crow People live their tradition and hold a variety of cultural events such as hand games, arrow throwing, Indian dances and seasonal ceremonies. Cattle drives, trail rides, camp-outs, hiking, guided tours, jackpot rodeos and other recreation are also available through private Native American establishments.
Established in 1977, the Custer County Art Center is located in a park that overlooks the Yellowstone River. It is housed in the holding tanks of the old Miles City Water Treatment Plant, which was built in 1910 and 1924, filling more than 7,000 square feet of exhibit and work space. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and earned a Montana Governor's Historic Preservation Award.
The Art Center has two large galleries, featuring national exhibitions and works from its permanent collection. Annual exhibits include the Southeast Montana Juried Competition, the Art Auction Exhibition and the Western Art Roundup which showcases traditional and contemporary western artists.
Commonly known as Custer's Last Stand, was an American military engagement fought on June 25, 1876, in what is now Montana, between a regiment of the Seventh U.S. Cavalry led by Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and a force of Sioux and Northern Cheyenne Indians. The discovery of gold in the nearby Black Hills in 1874 had led to an influx of white prospectors into Indian territory and to attacks on the prospectors by the Sioux, under Chiefs Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Gall (1840?-94).
In 1876 the army planned a campaign against the hostile Indians, then centered in southeastern Montana Territory. Custer's regiment of 655 men formed the advance guard of a force under Gen. Alfred Howe Terry. On June 25 Custer's scouts located the Sioux on the Little Bighorn River. Unaware of the Indian strength, between 2500 and 4000 men, Custer disregarded arrangements to join Terry at the junction of the Bighorn and Little Bighorn rivers and prepared to attack at once. In the hope of surrounding the Indians, he formed his troops into a frontal-assault force of about 260 men under his personal command and two flanking columns. The center column encountered the numerically superior Indians. Cut off from the flanking columns and completely surrounded, Custer and his men fought desperately but all were killed. Later Terry's troops relieved the remainder of the regiment. The battlefield, now known as the Little Bighorn National Monument, was established as a national monument in 1886 and was known, until 1991, as the Custer Battlefield National Monument.
The mansion, located in Billings, was designed in 1901 by a famous American architect, Henry Janeway Hardenbergh. The Moss Mansion is an exuberant mixture of various architectural styles. Styles range from the French parlor, to the ornate Moorish entry, to the Shakespearean library. The Moss Mansion offers an unusual blend of periods and styles.
The mansion is open daily throughout the entire year, with a gift shop open daily also.
MUSSELLSHELL VALLEY HISTORICAL MUSEUM:
Located in Roundup, this museum starts with the history of Roundup's beginnings, mainly the coal mines. Then, there is a local collection of Indian artifacts, fossils, petrified wood and crystals. These will intrigue the rockhound and casual observer alike.
In the Art Gallery, you will find a changing display of paintings, quilts and other works handcrafted by local artists.
These and more articles are available for your viewing pleasure. The museum is open daily from May through September. For more information, call (406)323-1403.
Oscar's Dreamland is a privately owned historical museum outside of Billings that includes early 1900's machinery, the oldest church steeple in Billings, the first schoolhouse in Yellowstone County, and a simulated 1900's pioneer town.
The pioneer town includes a railroad depot, general store, the schoolhouse and church steeple, old-time jail and padded cell, blacksmith shop, yesteryear home, barber shop, fire station, and a Model T Ford Garage, full of Model T's.
The machinery collection consists of many rare items that can't be seen anywhere else. Some of these include: 300 rare gas tractors - no duplicates, 40 steam traction engines, antique cars and trucks, 100 threshers, steam powered saw, shingle and lathe mill, wooden oil well rig, tallest air motor windmill, world's largest revolving clock, ancient hand tool display, a 120 ton Corlis steam engine, airplane and motors, and much more.
It is open daily from May 1st through September from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. An entrance fee is charged ($5 for adults, and less for children). Call (406)0966 for more information.
RANGE RIDER'S MUSEUM, MILES CITY:
The Range Riders Organization which owns the museum was started in 1939, by a group of stockmen who wanted the area's history to be preserved. The log headquarters structure was built in 1941, and has since grown into nine separate buildings. Each of these buildings contain thousands of articles which tell the story of the country. Every item has been donated by someone, and every structure built with funds from private contributions.
The features of the Range Riders Museum include: Fort Keogh, Homestead Log House, Indian History, Bert Clark Guns, L.O. Ranch Replica, Carol's Hattery, Memorial Hall, The Heritage Center, The One Room School, Charles M. Russell Gallery, Wilson Photo Collection of Old Timers, The New Vehicle Building, Old Milestown Exhibits, and the Coach House.
The museum is open from April 1 to October 31. Call (406)232-4483 for more information and/or appointments to see the museum.
The Western Heritage Center is a regional history museum interpreting and reflecting Yellowstone River Valley life. The center features "Our Place in the West", which is an interactive exhibit that explores the past, places and images of the Yellowstone Valley from 1880 to 1940. Additional changing exhibits, audio and visual programs, and the Museum Store are featured. Summer tour program to historical sites including Little Big Horn National Monument are available. Entrance is free to the public. Call (406)256-6809 for more information.
Zoo Montana is Montana's only zoo, which includes 70 acres of habitat for various animals. It is a fairly new zoo, and currently features a Siberian Tiger, Sika Deer, River Otters, and many species of birds. Future additions include snow monkeys, a High Plains habitat, and Grizzly bears. A plaza and gift shop is at the main entrance, and also a playground and picnic area is also available for use.
The zoo is open 7 days a week from April 15 to October 15. Call (406)652-8100 for more information.