2024 Road Trip To The West; Part III

The site of the Battle of Little Big Horn.  If you look closely at the gravestones, the one in the lower
center of the frame adorned with black is that of BVT. Major General George Armstrong
Custer. However, his remains were moved in the late 1800s. (click any image to enlarge)
All images made with my Nikon Z8 and 24-120mm f/4 lens.

This is a continuation post of my road trip out to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks primarily to photograph large mammals such as grizzly bears.  However, along the way out and back, I planned my adventure to be able to stop at various places and photograph.  You can find Part I here, Part II here and a post about what gear I took and why here.

Day 5 found me leaving Rapid City, South Dakota and driving to Billings, Montana.  Originally I planned to stop in Deadwood, South Dakota to just see this tourist attraction and ascertain its historical value but when checking the morning weather, I saw some ominous weather ahead.  So I skipped Deadwood and drove west on Interstate 90.  Next time.

My next stop was at the Little Big Horn National Monument.  You most likely know the events that happened here as Custer's Last Stand where Brevet (acting) Major General George Armstrong Custer (a commissioned Lt. Colonel) and all of his soldiers lost their lives fighting a combined superior Native American force.  I had been here before with others but I wanted to visit by myself to take in the solemnity and historical significance of the place without interruption.  I was moved.  You can find more about this national monument here.  

It is my understanding that the gravestones mark where individual soldiers fell and do not necessarily indicate a soldier is actually buried there.  Custer's body was moved to West Point National Cemetery in 1877.

I will say the area is strikingly beautiful to me and it is a shame that such natural beauty was marred by such killing.  However, there were lessons to be learned.

Here are a few of the images I made while walking around and 'taking in' the place.

The monument to the U.S. soldiers who died here was erected on top of the highest hill.  The fence
you see surrounds the 'cemetery' in which the gravestones, above, were erected.

This is part of the monument erected to commemorate the Native American warriors who also
died at this site.

Adjacent to the battlefield is a veteran's cemetery.  Filled to capacity
in 1978, it holds the graves of U.S. servicemen who served in the
Indian Wars, Spanish American War, World War I, World War II,
the Korean War (Conflict) and the Vietnam War.  The cemetery is
very well done and a fitting tribute to those who lie beneath.

From Little Big Horn, I continued my drive to Billings, Montana.  I encountered a fierce thunderstorm along my way.  It was a driving rain as well as a very strong headwind.  Before I left home, I coated my Honda's windshield with Rain-X to assist in repelling the rain and it worked well.  Even though it was a hard rain and I was driving at interstate speeds, the Rain-X allowed the water to just run right up my windshield and over the roof.  For much of the time, I didn't need to engage my windshield wipers.  Nice!

On Day 6 I drive from Billings, Montana to my initial destination—Bozeman, Montana, where I will meet with another photographer who drove out from Tennessee as well as our host who will be driving and guiding us through Yellowstone and the Tetons.  He lives locally and knows the parks well as well as where the different species of large mammals frequent.  I am excited!

On my way from Billings to Bozeman, again aware of my surroundings, in the distance I spot two old grain elevators.  Luckily, there is an exit off I-90 and I immediately take it.  I love these old structures which are quickly being demolished for more modern, concrete elevators.  The name of the tiny town is Reed Point.

Fortuitously, as I am parking my Honda to look over the area to make some images of the elevators, I hear the distant horn of a locomotive.  A train is coming!  Just in time to get my desired position, the train rolls by.  What a great addition it will be to complete the elevator composition.

Not more that a single street with a few houses and businesses, Reed Point, Montana has several
old buidlings that are interesting and worth photographing.  Two are these old wooden grain
elevators. Luck tapped me on the shoulder by having a train pass by just as I arrived.

Occident Flour from the Occident Elevator.

You can see the main street in town on the right.  This is an
abandoned 'saloon' with architecture in the old 'western' style.
There were other buildings in town with similar architecture.
I think most of the town's activities revolve around a modern RV
park near the highway exit.

Next stop, my initial destination—Bozeman.  Tomorrow Yellowstone!

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com. 

 

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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