Where To Find The Most Iconic Historical Landmarks In The Northwest
By AARON BAGGETT
After years of attempts to cross the Rocky Mountains, Wyoming's South Pass paved the way for American expansion. The 20-mile-wide gap made travel quicker and safer.
The South Pass
Crow Native Americans shared the pass with frontiersman Jedediah Strong Smith, and in 1843, a caravan of 120 wagons, 1,000 people, and livestock paved the way for 500,000 settlers.
Today, South Pass is a U.S. National Historic Landmark. Visitors can see the deep trails etched into the pass, carved by emigrants and their wagon wheels.
In 1976, the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes fought the 7th Regiment of the U.S. Cavalry at the Battle of Little Bighorn in Montana.
Little Bighorn Battlefield
While the grounds represent Custer's defeat, they also commemorate the resilience, unity, and defense against overwhelming odds for the indigenous community.
Haunting and educational, the well-preserved site has markers pointing to where soldiers and Native warriors fell, a stark visual representation of the battle's intensity.
This site in Wyoming is sacred for over 20 Native American tribes and intertwines Native American heritage with pivotal moments in American history.
Devils Tower
In the late 19th century, the tower emerged as a recognizable landmark to Western settlers as Native American tribes grappled with the implications of a rapidly changing world.
Devils Tower is a powerful reminder of how the natural world, indigenous narratives, and broader American history are linked. It became America's first national monument in 1906.
This 50-mile scenic byway in Montana symbolizes 20th-century civil engineering achievements and the national movement to make natural wonders accessible.
Going-To-The-Sun Road
Workers faced challenging topography, unpredictable weather, and the mandate to minimize environmental impact. There were even limitations on dynamite.
Journey through Glacier National Park's cedar forests and alpine tundras, stopping at safe pullouts to take in the views and learn the history.
This state park in Montana is one of the oldest Native American heritage sites in North America, representing the importance of bison to survival.
First Peoples Buffalo Jump
Multiple tribes hunted bison, sometimes in groups of hundreds, by driving them over sandstone cliffs stretching a mile long with a drop of 50 feet for food, clothing, and tools.
Walking trails have breathtaking views of the plains and panoramic vistas of the Missouri River Valley, the Rocky Mountain Front, and several mountain ranges.