Hardin, Montana

Posted on Nov 23, 2008 in City

Hardin offers history and views of the Bighorn Canyon for your Montana Vacation

by Michele Kadison

Hardin, Montana sits on the plains, near the banks of the Bighorn river. The town is full of history, and offers a variety of Montana hotels.

The town was purchased by the Lincoln Land Company of Nebraska. The president of the company, C.H. Morrill, named the townsite after his close friend, Samuel Hardin who was a cattleman living south of the area.

Hardin boasts a rich and interesting history. Sitting on the edge of the Crow Indian Reservation on the banks of the Bighorn River, the area features numerous heritage sites such as the Little Bighorn Battlefield, the Custer National Cemetery, and the Big Horn County Museum.

The Little Bighorn Battlefield lies just south of Hardin and it was here that the Northern Plains Indians defeated the U.S. Army along with their famous General Custer. The Custer’s Last Stand Reenactment is one of the Custer County’s main attractions. Here you will see Native American warriors representing the Sioux, Arapaho, and Northern Cheyenne tribes who were led by Sitting Bull, Gall, and Crazy Horse, fighting Custer’s Seventh Cavalry troops. The reenactment is based on elder tribesman Joseph Medicine Crow’s translation of the oral and written history of the region that began over 200 years ago. With over 200 participants, including troops, warriors, and scouts, the event is heralded as one of the ‘Top 100 Events in America’ by Destinations Magazine.

Head over to Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area for a dose of big country attractions. Here you can enjoy a wide range of outdoor recreation such as camping, hiking, fishing, and ice fishing as well as observing the amazing flora and fauna that populates the area. The Canyon and the Bighorn Dam are surrounded by the Pryor and Bighorn mountains, along with undulating hills and wide open plains that give way to the many ranches and farms in the Hardin area. Along with the largest wheat farm in the world, Hardin is also home to a strong coal mining industry.

Every year the Crow Indians celebrate their culture at the renowned Crow Fair, holding the largest powwow in Montana. Native Americans come from every Western state as well as Canada to camp along the Little Bighorn River where they create what is known as the Teepee Capital of the World. The fair is filled with colorful parades, Native American dancing, and wild horse races, which make the event a must-see for Montana vacation travelers.

Within the town of Hardin itself there are many well preserved historical buildings that you will find in the two historic districts: the Hardin Commerical Historic District and the Hardin Residential Historic District. Look for interpretive markers that will inform you about the architecture and as well as the town’s history.