Tour & Cruise Schedule  •   Terms & Conditions

July 8–15, 2007

• Overview
• Historian Guide: Neil Mangum
• Click to see PDF map
• Itinerary 8 days / 7 nights
• Cost

To book this tour, call (800) 628-8542

  Overview

On this tour Neil Mangum, former Little Bighorn Superintendent, will give you an in-depth understanding of the spectacular and tragic Battle of the Little Bighorn and the Sioux Wars that led to this legendary conflict. We will roam the battlefields of the post-Civil War frontier — Powder River, Rosebud, Wolf Mountain, Fetterman’s debacle, Connor’s folly, and the sites of the heroic stands of the U.S. Army at Wagon Box and Hayfield. We will feel the power of Sitting Bull’s medicine, the plight of the Indians who were fighting to preserve their way of life, and the desperation of the U.S. soldiers who fought so heroically. The story is one of boldness and bravery that is steeped in magic.

Neil Mangum

Neil spent most of his 34-year National Park Service career in the West. He has had two stints at the Little Bighorn National Monument, the first as chief historian, the second as park superintendent. He is the author of The Battle of the Rosebud: Prelude to the Little Bighorn and more than 50 articles on the Indian Wars.

  Day by Day

Sunday, July 8 – Gathering day in Billings, Montana, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. A welcome briefing and dinner will be hosted by Neil Mangum and HistoryAmerica.

Monday, July 9 – The tour begins at sites of the conflict between the U.S. and the Sioux and Cheyenne nations — the Bozeman Trail, Fort Smith, the Hayfield Fight site, and the Connor Battlefield.

Tuesday, July 10 – The morning’s theme is the Bozeman Trail Conflict with a visit to Ft. Kearny and the grounds of the Fetterman and Wagon Box Battles. In the afternoon we will visit a Cheyenne village site where the opening shots of the 1876 campaign were fired.

Wednesday, July 11 – The day begins at Crazy Woman Crossing followed by Ft. Reno, the site of the third Bozeman Trail post. In the afternoon we will study the Dull Knife Battlefield where Col. “Bad Hand” Mackenzie attacked the snowbound Cheyenne village.

Thursday, July 12 – This day is devoted to the 1876–1877 campaign. The first stop is Wolf Mountain Battlefield where Crazy Horse fought his last battle before his surrender four months later. Next we visit the Rosebud Battlefield where Gen. Crook was defeated by Crazy Horse. We will walk the mile and a half to Crook’s Hill.

Friday, July 13 – Today we begin our study of the Battle of Little Bighorn by following Col. Gibbons trail along the Yellowstone to the place where he met Custer’s Cavalry for their date with destiny. We also will visit Deer Medicine Rocks where Sitting Bull had his vision of the great Sioux victory.

Saturday, July 14 – Today is devoted to the Battle of the Little Bighorn. We stop at the Lone Tipi and Morass sites. Then we will follow Major Reno’s attack on Sitting Bull’s village and his retreat. Finally we will walk Reno’s defense site and Last Stand Hill.

Sunday, July 15 – Depart at leisure following breakfast.

  Cost ~ 8 days / 7 nights

Historian Guide Neil Mangum
Services of a professional tour director
Deluxe transportation
All admissions to included features
Seven nights hotel accommodations
Seven breakfasts, four lunches, five dinners
Taxes, baggage handling, and gratuities on included features
Suggested reading list

Per person, double occupancy: $2,095
Per person, single occupancy: $2,420