Denver and Red Indian battlefields

[Kursk1943]

A bit off topic, but I dare anyways...
After I have seen nearly all major battlefield sites of the Civic War during the last years, now it's time for me to fulfill a little boys's dream: see some famous sites of the Indian wars in the west. So I'll fly to Denver in July and plan to tour around Colorado, South Dakota, Wyoming and maybe North Dakota for about 10-12 days. The Black Hills, the Bad Lands, Wounded Knee, Little Big Horn, Sand Creek, the Yellowstone Park and the Dinosaur National Monument are already on the list.
I would appreciate very much some hints and recommendations what's worth to see in addition. As an retired German Army soldier I'm interested mainly in history, especially warfare, and nature.

[geofflambert]

First off, native Americans don't like being called "Red". The Little Bighorn is in Montana, I can't think of anything notable that happened in Colorado.

[Canoerebel]

That's a huge geographic area you're planning to cover, and some of those destinations are worth many days. Especially Yellowstone (and surely the adjacent Grand Tetons). There's a state park just outside Mount Rushmore dedicated to an American Indian leader (for some reason, I can't remember his name offhand). It also has a massive herd of buffalo and I think his image is carved on a mountain, in counterpoint to the four American presidents carved on Mount Rushmore. Devils Tower in Wyoming can easily be worked into a loop and offers great scenery and its an important Indian landmark. Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota is a favorite of mine - lovely, remote, usually lightly visited. The Bighorn Battlefield in Montana will be a must for you.

If you want an exceptional book to get you into the mood for it, read The Unforgiven. Have fun! Good luck!

[Lecivius]

Bent's Fort is off the beaten trial, but is an awesome place to get a true feel for that time frame. They have done a really good job, and does not feel 'touristy' at all.

https://www.nps.gov/beol/index.htm

A bit further east is a simple memorial for the Sand Creek Massacre. The ideas of that time should be remembered...as something to always avoid.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_Cree ... toric_Site

[rockmedic109]

Crazy Horse is the Indian Chiefs name. Did they ever finish it?

There was the Denver Museum of Natural History. I went there in the 80s. I liked it as a teenager. I don't know if I would now or even if it's still there. They had two floors of taxidermy animal scenes. They even messed up when stuffing an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake and incorporated it into the scene anyway by having the alligator biting it. They even had a space theatre where you sat in a recliner and looked up at the inside of a half-sphere {I think they called it a Spacarium. I missed Leonard Nimoy being the narrator {Live} by two weeks.

[Lecivius]

Crazy Horse is still unfinished. I doubt it ever will be, it is a very ambitious project.

The Denver Museum is still there, as is the IMAX ( I believe that is what you are talking about).

[Lecivius]

And then there is a famous Subway on the NE plains. And if you know where to look (other side of the park), you can see an out of place caboose & sometimes hear someone scream "Banzai!"

https://www.google.com/maps/place/218+N ... 04.7018316

[BBfanboy]

You might want to watch the movie (or read the book) "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee". It is the Indian tribe's story of what they regard as cultural genocide in the white man's education of their children, the taking of the their lands for agriculture and later the breaking of the treaty establishing their reserve by taking away land that was found to have valuable ore on it. The massacre of a village at Wounded Knee is depicted near the end of the film. It gives a lot of perspective of the native peoples about how they have been mistreated over the years. For every Hollywood story of Indians attacking peaceful white people there are other stories of white people doing much worse to Indian tribes - giving them blankets infected with smallpox comes to mind.

I mention this because there could be some hostility by a few natives to your visit, although most that I have met are quite friendly if you are genuinely interested in their story. Good luck, and post a few pictures when you get back.

[Trugrit]

A lot of Indian war history in Wyoming. I have never been but I hope to someday.

I would guess that you don’t want to miss the site of the Wagon Box Fight.
Looks like a beautiful meadow near Banner.

Unknown to most people the battle is considered to be a major turning point in the Indian wars.
Here 32 men fought 1,000 Indians to a standstill.

http://exploringoffthebeatenpath.com/Ba ... index.html

Near Banner you are in easy reach of five or six battle fields.

Use the map below and you can look them up on the internet.

[Schani59]

Oops. See below.

[Schani59]

ORIGINAL: Schani59

ORIGINAL: Kursk1943

A bit off topic, but I dare anyways...
After I have seen nearly all major battlefield sites of the Civic War during the last years, now it's time for me
to fulfill a little boys's dream: see some famous sites of the Indian wars in the west. So I'll fly to Denver in
July and plan to tour around Colorado, South Dakota, Wyoming and maybe North Dakota for about 10-12 days.
The Black Hills, the Bad Lands, Wounded Knee, Little Big Horn, Sand Creek, the Yellowstone Park and the Dinosaur
National Monument are already on the list.
I would appreciate very much some hints and recommendations what's worth to see in addition. As an retired German
Army soldier I'm interested mainly in history, especially warfare, and nature.

From the Little Big Horn Battlefield in Montana is North Dakota; Fort Abraham Lincoln and Fort Buford are restored
Historical sites. Theodore Roosevelt National Park, near Medora. The Badlands is a great place to visit. Dickenson
Has a fine dinosaur museum. All are pretty close together. All except for Fort Buford are near Interstate I-94.
The saying goes here when entering Montana. 'Stay in North Dakota. Custer was healthy when he left.'

[Rusty1961]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

First off, native Americans don't like being called "Red". The Little Bighorn is in Montana, I can't think of anything notable that happened in Colorado.

And Japanese don't like to be called,"Jap", as most posters do in this group.

[BillBrown]

If you are in the area, The Cody Museum in Cody, Wyoming is a nice visit.

[Kursk1943]

Woah, what a response in such a short time! Thanks a lot you all! Will consider all your proposals, great!
And yes, BBFANBOY. I read "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" by Dee Brown for the first time at the age of 11 (in German then...), also read "Creek Mary" by the same author and some more books, so I'm not quite unprepared...[;)]
Uhh...did'nt know about "read indians" being insulting. Always learned in school not to say "indians", because of the real indians in india...[:D] Anway, what's okay then? Natives?

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: Kursk1943

Anway, what's okay then? Natives?

Native Americans are people [;)] Just treat them like you would anybody else, who has been screwed most of their lives.

[Canoerebel]

I know that the Cherokee prefer the term "American Indian." Presumably other groups would find that acceptable too. That's what I use now in connection with my business, rather than "Native American."

[Chickenboy]

Nothing to add re: the battlefield tours of the Indian Wars.

A comment regarding Yellowstone in July:

You and everybody and their brothers will be in the park (or Grand Tetons) between June and August. If you wanted to stay in the park camping you should ensure that you have a reservation. Even the hike-in overnight camps fill up during that time frame.

Also, a German that hasn't spent much time in our plains states will be surprised at how sparsely populated and open this area is. There's poor public transit available, I'll tell you that much! [;)] You should put yourself in a position to be able to rent a car and legally drive in this country. A four wheel drive for some lesser-traveled sites probably wouldn't be a bad idea.

[Trugrit]

ORIGINAL: Kursk1943

Woah, what a response in such a short time! Thanks a lot you all! Will consider all your proposals, great!
And yes, BBFANBOY. I read "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" by Dee Brown for the first time at the age of 11 (in German then...), also read "Creek Mary" by the same author and some more books, so I'm not quite unprepared...[;)]
Uhh...did'nt know about "read indians" being insulting. Always learned in school not to say "indians", because of the real indians in india...[:D] Anway, what's okay then? Natives?

I would not call them out at all if I were you.

I don’t mind if they call me paleface which is a movie term.

I have something in common with them besides being American.

I’m a southern American.

Like the British, French, Indians, Spanish, Japanese and Germans; my ancestors were also defeated by the U.S. Army.

[spence]

I stopped at the Battle of the Little Bighorn Battlefield while moving to the West Coast. It is right next to Interstate 90 (the highway itself passes adjacent to if not through the Indian Camp). Pretty interesting site - pretty much the site at which each and every soldier AND (at least) the notable braves fell in battle is marked by a stone marker as well as the positions held by both Benteen/Reno and the besieging native Americans during the next 24 hrs (didn't know that Cpt Benteen and Mjr Reno were surrounded and under siege for about a day after Custer was killed).

(Note: don't have a dog with you...basically all National Parks have a rule that dogs are not allowed out of the car in the park)

[MakeeLearn]

Scalp Dance: Indian Warfare on the High Plains, 1865-1879
2002

Indian Removal: The Emigration of the Five Civilized Tribes of Indians
1932
The Real Trail of Tears. Take the Cherokee version with a lot of salt. This is one of the MOST misunderstood events in American history.

Some paraphrased quotes:

"As we rounded up the bands of Creeks we came across every shade of Red, of White and of Black."
" I lived through the Indian removals and the Civil War and I have never seen such inhumanity as that which was endured by the Creeks at the hands of the Whites and Cherokees"


Custer
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... ocumentary

Custer battlefield archeology
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... archeology