History on Fire Series – The Battlefield of Little Big Horn and the American Old West

Today we will arrive from all around the world to Rapid City, South Dakota. You will be given detailed instructions on how to meet up with the rest of the tour participants at our hotel. From there you will have a free day to explore all that Rapid City has to offer. If you have time, consider the Wind Cave National Park with its amazing natural beauty above and below the park (in the form of astonishing natural caves). Visit the local oddity Pawnseum for a mix of museum and pawn shop - they'll even buy your gold if you have some handy. Or just relax and visit the downtown shopping area, a cafe or two, or head off to a saloon.

If you can manage it, we do recommend that you discover the Prairie Edge & Sioux Trading Post. It is part art gallery and trading post specializing in Native American art and the education of histories past.

You will want to return from your explorations to the hotel by late afternoon – or arrive from all places international – as Geek Nation Tours will host our Welcome Dinner.  It will be a great opportunity to meet your fellow tour participants and discuss what we are doing in the coming days. We will dine at Fort Hays Old West Town and experience their Chuckwagon Supper & Music Show and even take in the original Dances with Wolves movie set as we wait to get into the show.

While in Rapid City we will be staying at the Courtyard by Marriott Rapid City

Today we have a long day ahead of us as we drive into the Black Hills to see the natural wonder of the area and to experience firsthand why these lands were such a passionate part of the contentious Old West. We will travel through scenic landscapes of several different types of beauty today – from the great plains, to the sedimentary buttes of the Badlands to the mountains so thick with evergreens that the Lakota called them paha sapa or “Hills that are Black”. Who knows, we might even see some Buffalo...

But any trip to the Black Hill would not be complete without a stop at the Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore Memorials. We will take our time at each of these spots – visiting the museums and all that the views have to offer….

Sylvan Lake is one of Daniele's favorite spots in the whole world. Located inside Custer State Park, Sylvan Lake is simply stunning. The forest around it, the rock formations and water itself create a scenery that feels too incredible to be real. The lake is at the base of Black Elk's Peak, one of the highest mountaintops in the midwest, named after the Lakota holy man Black Elk (whose story is featured in the classic book Black Elk Speaks). Once there, we'll have the opportunity to hike around the lake, and in case the natural beauty is not enough to clarify why the Lakota people consider the Black Hills sacred, Daniele's friend, Shane DuBray, an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota tribe, will visit with us, sharing insights about his people's culture and their connection to these lands.

We will be staying at Hilton Garden Inn

We will return to the Black Hills today for a Jeep Safari which will give us access to private roads and a in-depth exploration of Custer State Park with the goal of getting up close and personal with the local wildlife...

After our adventure we will head north to Deadwood and upon our arrival we will take a local bus tour of the city - learning about its history and even visiting the resting places of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane...

From here we will be off to wet our whistles at the Saloon No. 10 for some grub and a beverage or two… Don’t worry the Geek Nation Tours Representative will have you all checked in and your bags brought to your room while you are enjoying this living museum – maybe the only one in the world with a full bar. Oh and expect to see the assassination of Wild Bill Hickok while we are there…

Staying at the Four Points by Sheraton Deadwood

Today we will head out towards Sheridan and Fort Phil Kearny. Fort Phil Kearny was established in the late 1860s and named after Major General Philip Kearny an American Civil War hero. Built along the Bozeman Trail it was meant to protect prospective miners traveling the trail north, but the Lakota Sioux led by Red Cloud viewed the fort (which was built in the middle of their sacred hunting grounds) as a violation of treaty and a threat to their way of life. The fort was attacked many times in its history and was burnt to the ground in 1868 after being abandoned by the army. We will visit the Interpretive Center, Gift Shop, but most importantly to wargamers – the Fort diorama that depicts, to scale, the complete fort as it must have looked in the fall of 1866. We will then journey into the reconstructed stockade walls and to see where the original buildings would have stood. Here we will learn more about not only the personalities involved with the fort such as Red Cloud, Crazy Horse, and Fetterman but also about the Bozeman Trail itself and the Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho that fought so hard for the land surrounding Fort Phil Kearney.

We will also make our way to the surrounding hills – which have changed little since the 1860s – to explore where the Fetterman Fight took place (including Pilot Hill and the Wheatley/Fisher Rocks). We will learn how Captain William J. Fetterman was lured out past Lodge Trail Ridge which lead to the worst military disaster of the time and a great victory for Natives.

We will also make our way to the Wagon Box Fight location and learn of this engagement during Red Cloud’s War that saw 26 soldiers of the U.S. Army and six civilians face several hundred Lakota. The outnumbered soldiers were able to hold off the Indians – largely with the help of the newly issued breech loading Springfield rifles – until they were supported by an additional force from Fort Kearny. This is considered the last major engagement of Red Cloud’s war and last charge Crazy Horse ever made against whites occupying a strong defensive position.

We will then leave the fort – to experience a "Dude Ranch"! We will gather for some real Western Cooking tonight and settle in for a full day of ranch living tomorrow. But this will be a "hands on experience" and thus we will be helping to harvest what we are eating. From the getting the milk from the cow, the honey from the bees and all the other goodness cowboy life provides.

We will be staying at TA Ranch

Overnight Location: TA Ranch

Today you will have the full day to meander and take in our Dude Ranch stay... Here is a quote direct from their page:

"Operating continuously since 1882, The TA Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming proudly preserves the authentic traditions of both the old and new west. Visit us and get a taste of real Cowboy Culture! Family owned and operated by fourth generation Wyoming natives, you’ll experience the workings of an actual operating cattle ranch, and enjoy the grandeur of Wyoming in true dude ranch vacation style!

The TA Guest Ranch is the site of the 1892 Johnson County War, and is a Smithsonian Institute National Landmark. We invite you to an original 150 year old Wyoming ranch, where you stay in meticulously renovated and restored buildings from the original homestead, built in 1880. Experience the grounds and high plains in all it’s grandeur, minutes from the Rocky Mountains, while also enjoying modern amenities such as Fiber Optic Internet and WiFi, lush rooms, casual luxury, and an exceptional dining experience."

Expect family style hospitality along with unparalleled scenery, amazing food, and a day to relax - cowboy style. For those brave enough to hop on a horse we will head out to scout the Bozeman Trail which we learned about the day prior. You'll be made into a new cowboy or cowgirl via once-in-a-lifetime experience. Later in the day we will take in some more local and ranch history and watch the real cowboy/cowgirls ride... Make sure you build up a large appetite however, as we will be treated to a late evening dinner with open grilled steak, fresh caught fish and loads of other tasty bits. After dinner we will retire to the bonfire to tell stories and jokes into the night.

Overnight Location: TA Ranch

Today we will visit not one but two Battlefields as we are joined by a local guide to first explore the Battle of Wolf Mountains. Taking place on January 8, 1877, this turning point battle marked one of the last major engagements of the Great Sioux War. Its end saw the eventual surrender and movement to reservation lands of the Sioux, Northern Cheyenne and Crazy Horse himself. Despite blizzards and extreme cold Colonel Nelson Miles camped beside the Tongue River on the southern flank of the Wolf Mountains. That day Crazy Horse and 800 braves made a surprise attack, but Miles was able to quickly repulse the raid and drive the Indians off into the bluffs overlooking the camp. When the troops assaulted the bluffs, the warriors withdrew under cover of a snowstorm. The arrival of Crazy Horse and his people on May 6 at Camp Robinson, Nebraska, symbolized for many the formal conclusion of the war.

We will then take the short drive to Rosebud Battlefield State Park to discuss this battle and to see where it took place. The Battle of Where the Girl Saved Her Brother or Rosebud took place on June 17, 1876 and saw General George Crook fighting Crazy Horse only one week before Custer’s defeat at the Little Bighorn. The battle is considered one of the largest of the Indian Wars with the Sioux and Cheyenne numbering at least 1,500 and Crook’s forces totaling about 1000. It is also played a very important part in the defeat of Custer and his troops at Little Big Horn, as Crook’s troops had to withdraw and thus could not offer support at the Battle of Little Big Horn. We will be hiking a bit in this park – so make sure you have your cowboy boots ready and are ok with rattlesnake country – but we will be well rewarded as we will journey by foot through this almost untouched countryside to where the very place where Sister Saved Her Brother.

We will be staying at the Best Western Clock Tower Inn and gather for yet another group dinner

We will spend the day with the U.S. Cavalry School which offers the very best in Little Bighorn/Custer Battlefield adventures and a Staff ride of the area. They will tailor make an amazing history experience for us over this day which will allow us to study the Little Bighorn more closely than most would ever get to see it. Today you will have the opportunity to RIDE THE LITTLEBIG HORN BATTLEFIELD ON HORSE BACK!!!! If you are willing we will get you up on a horse, teach you basic horsemanship and will ride the route taken by Custer and his 7^th Cavalry during the last few hours of their lives.  This three-hour tour will also see the Sitting Bulls, Galls, and Crazy Horses trails.  For those less adventurous we will cover much of the battlefield by motor coach. Regardless of whether you are up for a ride or not, everyone will be able to take part in a period weapon shoot and Native American Archery class…

NOTE: If weather, ground or other conditions, do not allow for mounted ride; additional locations, demonstrations, activities and firing live ammo will be substituted. Also if you want to continue forward only in a vehicle without the ride Geek Nation Tours will have something planned for you too…. And a final note, we will be easy on you on our horse back trip... NO TRICK RIDING SKILLS NECCESSARY!

We will let you explore Billings on your own for dinner tonight, but we might set up a poker game or two (or maybe a bit of Little Big Horn boardgaming).

Overnight Location: Best Western Clock Tower Inn

Today will see us spend most of the day discovering the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument itself.  We hope to be first joined by a Native guide from Apsaalooke Tours that will bring us on a two-hour guided tour of the Battlefield Visitor’s Center followed by a Park Ranger scheduled talk and walking tour. We will also have time to visit the gift shop and book store along with watching the 25 minute orientation video to give us the parks perspective on the events.  Our visit will include Custer’s Last Stand Hill and the U.S. Army Memorial, Custer National Cemetery, the Indian Memorial, Reno’s Charge and Retreat area, Deep Ravine Trail, and the second stage of the Battle of the Little Bighorn the Reno/Benteen Battlefield which is just south of the Little Bighorn. We will see several other memorials including the U.S. 7^thCavalry marker stones, the Lakota and Cheyenne Warrior markers and even a marker to Crazy Horse.

With that said, we will be sure to give you as much time as possible at Last Stand Hill so we can reflect on the nature of the battle. Experiencing that day through the grave markers of both sides – some standing alone, others clumped together and many huddled around the place where George A. Custer’s body was found. As always it is Geek Nation Tours’ goal to give both perspectives of any battlefield we visit and Little Bighorn will be no different. Expect to see many perspectives on the history that led up to the battle and how it changed history on both sides.

Tonight we will gather back in Billings for our Farewell Dinner at the Jake's Downtown Steakhouse.

Overnight Location: Best Western Clock Tower Inn

All good things must end, unfortunately, and today we return to the airport and depart for home. The photos, memories and friendships you made are yours to keep forever!