Indian Memorial

Congress authorized an Indian memorial in 1991 to honor Native American participation in the Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25-26, 1876, and to change the name of Custer Battlefield National Monument to Little Bighorn National Monument; former President George H. W. Bush signed it into law on December 10, 1991. The winning design by John R. Collins and Allison J. Towers of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was selected from more than 500 entries in a national competition. Gently carved from the prairie in a circular earth and stone form, it reflects the sacred meaning of the circle for many tribes as a symbol of the journey of life. Its spirit gate to the Seventh Cavalry Monument symbolically welcomes the spirits of the Seventh Cavalry into the circle, while a weeping wall symbolizes the tears and suffering of Indian people who fought here on Greasy Grass to retain their nomadic way of life. Interior walls honor the five tribes that fought here: Sioux, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Crow, and Arikara, and the Spirit Warriors sculpture by Oglala Lakota artist Colleen Cutschall represents the free spirit of warriors riding into battle. It honors past, present, and future generations of Indian people and carries a universal message for all visitors: Peace through Unity.

Crow Agency, Montana · United States