Crow Agency is a town in Southeast Montana. The namesake agency is in the town. The privately-owned town of Garryowen is nearby, as is the site of the Little Bighorn battlefield.
Understand
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The town has some 1,650 inhabitants (2020). It is the governmental headquarters of the Crow Native Americans and the location of the agency offices, where federal representatives interact with the Crow Tribe, pursuant to federal treaties and statutes.
History
[edit]The Crow Tribe's reservations, and the tribe's relations to the United States were defined by treaties between the Crow Tribe and the United States, and by United States statutes. The Treaty of Fort Laramie of 1851 created extensive reservation lands for the Indian tribes in Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas at a time when the non-Indian presence in this area was limited to roving traders and the Crow tribe consisted of nomadic bands whose culture was based on hunting the migratory buffalo herds. Conflicts began when bands of the Sioux migrated westwards, and in 1863 when gold was discovered in western Montana. The Sioux went to war and forced the United States to close the trail through the Powder River country. The Crow reservation boundaries were remade in the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, as the Sioux were given land in the former Crow areas. In compensation the Crow were promised some support. Sporadic conflicts with the Sioux continued. In 1874 miners encroached on the western margins of Crow lands in the Absaroka Range, and the reservation was again reduced in 1875. Rapid transition on the plains of eastern Montana and Wyoming followed, together with gold found in the Black Hills resulting in the Great Sioux War of 1876, where the Crows provided scouts for the United States military forces.
In the battle of Little Big Horn, the U.S. 7th Cavalry under George Custer suffered a major defeat to the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho. The defeat resulted in a concerted military backlash against the Sioux, and soon the Sioux had to flee to Canada or were confined to reservations along the Missouri River. This first gave relief for the Crow, but with the Sioux presence neutralized, hide hunters came to harvest the northern buffalo herds.
In 1882, the Northern Pacific Railroad was completed. By then, the buffalo were gone and other game reduced, and the Crow's nomadic way of life could no more be sustained.
Get in
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Interstate Highway 90 from Casper and Buffalo, Wyoming (in the south) and US Highway 212 from Belle Fourche, South Dakota (in the east) merge in Crow Agency, continuing to Billings, Montana.
Get around
[edit]See
[edit]- 1 Yellowtail Dam, Rte 210, Fort Smith (take Montana Highway 313 south from Hardin to Fort Smith; continue straight through Fort Smith and continue on the road (stay left at the fork after Ft. Smith, drive past the government camp, and the Bureau of Reclamation office), continuing up the hill until you see the visitor center near the top of the dam), ☏ +1 406 666-2412, [email protected]. Park is open every day. Visitor Center open Memorial Day to Labor Day, Tu–Su 8:30AM to 4:30PM. Part of the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking, camping. Free.
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
[edit]- 2 Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (Custer's Last Stand), 756 Battlefield Tour Rd (From I-90, take Crow Agency Exit 510 at Jct 212), ☏ +1 406 638-3216. 8AM–4:30PM; Summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day): 8AM–6PM.
This area memorializes the US Army's 7th Cavalry, Crow and Arikara scouts and the Lakotas, Cheyennes, and Arapaho in one of the American Indian's last armed efforts to preserve their way of life.
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, known to the Lakota and other Plains Indians as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, took place on June 25–26, 1876. The fight was an overwhelming victory for the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho, who were led by several major war leaders, including Crazy Horse and Chief Gall. The U.S. 7th Cavalry, a force of 700 men commanded by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer, suffered 268 dead and 55 severely wounded. Custer and 40 other soldiers were eventually surrounded at the top of a hill, and fought to the last man. Custer's Last Stand came to be considered heroic by European Americans, although modern interpretations are highly critical of Custer's tactics, character and overall role in the wars against American Indians.
An entrance fee is required to access the monument. America the Beautiful Passes (Interagency Passes) are also accepted. As of July 2025:
- Private vehicle: $25
- Motorcycle: $20
- Walk/bicycle: $15/person
There are two sections of the park: the Custer Battlefield at the entrance, and the Reno-Benteen Battlefield 3 mi (4.8 km) miles south. The two are connected by Battlefield Road, a 4.5 mi (7.2 km) paved scenic route with interpretive pullouts.
- 3 Visitor Center. The visitor center is a temporary structure, beside a new building that is expected to open in 2026.
- 4 Custer National Cemetery. Walk along the graves of about 5,000 American veterans, including women and children from isolated frontier posts, Indian scouts, and Medal of Honor recipients.
- 5 Last Stand Hill (uphill walk from visitor center. Parking only for disabled permits). Here is where 41 Army soldiers, including Custer, dug in as they were overcome by Indian forces. There are a variety of memorial structures, including the 7th Cavalry Memorial and the Indian Memorial.
- 6 Reno-Benteen Battlefield (end of Battlefield Rd, 4.5 mi (7.2 km) from visitor center). Major Marcus Reno's detachment retreated to this hill after attempting to attack an Indian encampment across the river, and were surrounded here until the next day. From this vantage point, you can piece together the early stages of the battle.
Do
[edit]- 1 Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (drive northwest to Hardin, turn south to Highway 313, which leads to Fort Smith in the recreation area). National recreation area around Bighorn Lake, created by the Yellowtail Dam (named after the Crow leader Robert Yellowtail). The area straddles the border to Wyoming. Part of the area is in the Crow Indian Reservation. Pryor Mountains Wild Horse Range is partly in the park.
Events
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- 2 Battle of the Little Bighorn Reenactment, Real Bird Loop (off the east frontage road between Crow Agency and Garryowen; it is not a part of the National Monument). June, F-Su closest to 25-26th, 1PM. Reenactment lasts about 90 minutes but come early to visit vendors and interact with the reenactors. Reenactment on a site that was part of the actual battle. The unfolding of the war and the battle is largely told from Native American perspectives, by members of the tribes that participated in the conflict. The show features impressive displays of horseback riding by cavalry reenactors. Arrive early, bleacher seating gets crowded. Prepare for any weather. There's a few food and crafts vendors, but options are limited. $25 adults, $15 ages 7-13, under 7 free. Tickets sold at gate only.
- Crow Fair, ☏ +1 406 638-1447. Third week in August. The Crow Fair was created in 1904 by Crow leaders and an Indian government agent to present the Apsáalooke Nation. It welcomes all Native American tribes of the Great Plains to its festivities. It attracts nearly 45,000 spectators and participants. Crow Fair is "the teepee capital of the world", with often over 1,500 teepees. The fair includes a parade each morning at 10AM which features extraordinary traditional dress, rodeo (including related activities), horse racing, and a pow-pow (Crow Dance Celebration) in the evening. Free.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]- 1 Custer Battlefield Trading Post, 347 Hwy 212 (at I-90), ☏ +1 406 638-2270.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]| Routes through Crow Agency |
| Bozeman ← Billings ← | W  E
|
→ Sheridan → Gillette / Casper via 
|
| Great Falls ← Billings ← | N  S
|
→ Sheridan → Casper |
| Yellowstone N.P. ← Billings ← | W  E
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→ Jct N  S → Belle Fourche
|