Fort Custer Military Reservation (historical), Montana

Fort Custer Military Reservation (historical) (Big Horn County, near Hardin, Montana)

Big Horn County, near Hardin · Montana · Indian Wars

Quick BriefFort Custer was established in June 1877 by the U.S. Army during the Indian Wars to control the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Crow Indians. The post was located on the high point between the Big Horn and Little Big Horn Rivers south of present-day Hardin, Montana, and named for George A. Custer, who died at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The post closed on April 17, 1898 and the buildings were sold and used to build Hardin, Montana.

Open to visitors

History & Significance

Established in June 1877 during the Indian Wars to control Sioux, Cheyenne, and Crow nations, Fort Custer occupied a commanding position on the high plateau between the Big Horn and Little Big Horn Rivers, named posthumously for General George Armstrong Custer. Lieutenant-Colonel G. P. Buell of the Eleventh Infantry led construction, with companies transferred from Cheyenne Agency and Fort Yates joining him at the site.

The completed facility housed ten companies with stables for six cavalry troops, with buildings surrounding a large parade ground but without walls or fortifications. The Second Cavalry Regimental Headquarters and the 11th Infantry first garrisoned the post in November 1877.

Though most Native Americans were confined to reservations by then, the post supplied troops for the Bannock War in 1878 and an uprising at Crow Agency in 1887. In 1886 Company M of the First Cavalry began what would become over 30 years of military presence at Yellowstone National Park.

When the post closed April 17, 1898, the buildings were sold and materials used to construct Hardin, Montana. Today scattered cellars and ground depressions remain on the site.

Key Facts

StateMontana

LocationBig Horn County, near Hardin

Established1877

Decommissioned1898

War / eraIndian Wars

Current statusRuins

Coordinates45.72694444, -107.5744444

Map

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🧳 Visiting

What you’ll see when you visit:

Scattered cellars and ground depressions mark the 1877 military post
Little Bighorn River valley setting, site of famous 1876 battle
Buffalo Soldiers of the Tenth Cavalry served here during Indian Wars
Fort named after General Custer; abandoned in 1898
Located within Crow Indian Reservation

Best time to visitSpring (April-May) and early fall (September-October) offer mild temperatures; avoid Montana winters (November-March) and summer heat peaks (July-August).

Getting thereNearest airport is Billings Logan International (BIL), approximately 75 km away; the site is near Hardin in Big Horn County, Montana.

From the nearest major airportBillings Logan International Airport (BIL)🚗 54 mi by road⏱️ ≈ 1 hr 11 min drive

Fort Custer Military Reservation (historical) (Big Horn County, near Hardin, Montana)

History & Significance

Key Facts

Map

🧳 Visiting

Sources

Other Forts in Montana

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