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Northwest Adventure Day 19
North America » United States » Wyoming
October 4th 2008 by Jerry and Rita
Trip Checkpoint
We start the day tired and somewhat tempted to stay put for a day. However, as we do an overall checkpoint on weather and timing for the remainder of the trip, we find that we need to get through the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument today if we have any chance of seeing it in anything other than the rain predicted for tomorrow. We think about bypassing it altogether only because it is further north than we really need to go but a colleague of Rita's (Tad) had highly recommended it and we know it is one of those sights we will appreciate. So, we decide to take the ride to and then after, get as far as we feel capable of, along I-90 in route to our last major touring area - Mt. Rushmore, etc.
It is also our 22nd wedding anniversary. Plans to celebrate are totally up in the air. We trust we will celebrate it all day with something of note come evening.
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
The drive to get to the monument is pretty but uneventful with the exception of a few deer and a particular casino that caught our eyes. We didn't venture into the Casino but the name coincided with one of our good friends and the "Honest" in front of it made it a personal tourist snapshot. Hope Tom enjoys it.
We both comment as to the lack of mountains. The change to large rolling hills is pleasant but we guess we're just mountain people by nature. In a different set of circumstances, we may well have moved to the mountains but oh well...we digress. We also miss the vivid autumn colors we have been accustomed to. Our scenery has changed to that more desert like with a lot of tan colored range and sandy brown hillsides. At one point, Jerry finds a Mexican radio station and starts blaring the music while singing along. It was priceless. He wonders aloud if we've made a wrong turn and are now in Mexico. It was funny at the time - guess you had to be there
The expressway is well marked for the Little Bighorn Battlefield Monument, though the city exit is actually Crow Agency. We never did find out how a little town would get such a name. We were too distracted with the other town name on the same exit sign. We dare anyone to pronounce it - Baaxuwuaashe! Even those of us from Wisconsin with many Indian named cities will struggle with this one.
We started our visit to the Battlefield with a trip to the visitor center. We purchased a tape that would give the history as you proceeded through the monument grounds. Unfortunately, the first tape was such an old version, it gave the history and viewpoints from before the current road through the battlefields was built. We went back in and they were shocked and very apologetic. We purchased the newer CD version instead. They applied the cost of the older cassette to the CD and commented that with the cassettes they sold, nobody ever came in and told them it didn't match the current stops. We got to the car and the CD was a definite improvement. Unfortunately, we wasted a good 30 minutes figuring out the first tape was not applicable and getting to the true starting point of the second. The time would prove costly in the end.
The CD was very helpful in filling in providing additional history of the area. It was interesting that parts of the drive are actually on private property. This history was obviously pieced together over time as artificats and remains were used to clarify historical fact over folklore that pervade generations. We must admit, in some cases here at the battlefield, the folklore was much more interesting and inspirational than the facts derived years and years later. It was noteworthy. We continued listening to the tape until the last few stopping points across the battlefield. It turned out to be a little more than we bargained for, going into such detail about the geological digs and how fact is derived that we finally shut it off altogether. Unlike the beginning, this last part became a distraction to what we were seeing and trying to appreciate.
We are not history buffs but we do have an appreciation for seeing and hearing about history. Here at Little Bighorn Battlefield Monument, the views, explanations, and especially the grave headstones that marked where many had fallen, it was sombering. It is difficult to imagine these battles occurring with such crude battle gear and equipment. Miles we travel in an hour today would have taken them at least a day back then. Reading about it is one thing. Being there, looking out over the expansive battlefields and comparing the routes they took to the scene in front of you, that was unreal. There are many hikes that can be taken for further detail at various viewpoints. We chose not to do so but if we ever visit again, the walks would be something we'd want to do.
The time at the start of our tour ended up costing us at the end. The weather held true and sprinkles of rain began to fall. It made the scene even more somber but also kept us from getting Jerry's scooter out for the final stops that included well paved routes at the markers and the cemetery. It was disappointing but it is what it is and we only wished we would have stopped the CD sooner and listened to all the history and folklore at a later date. We still had a great appreciation for what had happened here before either of our times.
It is important to note that most of the remains of the soldiers, scouts, and civilians were reinterred in 1881 to a single grave site - the base of the single memorial at the end of the tour. The white marble headstones denote only where the slain troopers were found and originally buried. The officers' remains were removed in 1877 to various cemeteries through the country. General Custer is buried at West Point. Knowing that does not change the impact of viewing the battlefields and the marble headstone markers throughout. It remains a sombering historical tour to record for us what happened to make this country what it is for us today. It was a very worthwhile place to visit.
Sheridan, Wyoming
We get back on the expressway and eventually, decide to stay the night in Sheridan. We note the Buffalo Bill history the town claims as well as some of the tourist traps, many closed for the season. It is not as touristy as Cody was, but prevalent nonetheless. We choose a nice looking Best Western and use the gift card given to Rita by her colleagues. It's our anniversary afterall. We are thankful for the gift they gave.
The Best Western turns out to have the area's best sports viewing available in their bar. Nathan, our bartender, finds us a place and gets the Wisconsin game turned on for us. So, we celebrate our 22nd wedding anniversary as only Jerry and Rita would enjoy - watching the Wisconsin football game at the hotel bar. We share sandwiches for our anniversary dinner - absolutely perfect! Unfortunately Wisconsin loses. We retreat to our room and check weather for Rapid City for Sunday. We confirm that the predicted rain for Mt. Rushmore area is still forecasted. Not really wanting to see Mt. Rushmore in the pouring rain, plus knowing we are both exhausted from the last few days and the constant go-go-go, it doesn't take us too long to decide to reserve a second night. We rest more peacefully knowing that we face a day of rest tomorrow.
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