Big Hole
National Battlefield is a memorial to the people who fought and died
here on August 9 and 10, 1877, combatants in a five month conflict that
came to be called the Nez Perce War of 1877. Like other Indian Wars in
the late 1800's, the Nez Perce War involved two very different groups
with very different outlooks on land rights, civilian authority,
government powers, social organization, and the responsibilities of the
individuals to society.
In 1877, about 750 non-treaty Nez Perce fled Idaho in the face of
demands from the US Army that all Nez Perce move onto a reservation a
fraction from the size of their traditional homeland. The Army was
enforcing a national policy of placing all American Indians on
reservations to make way for the westward expansion of the young United
States.
In early August, the non-treaty Nez Perce camped for several days
along the North Fork of the Big Hole River. They knew they had crossed
into Montana Territory, and believed they were safe from further
pursuit. Just before daybreak on August 9, 1877, military forces
attacked them as they rested after six weeks of conflict and flight.
Although the soldiers and civilian volunteers attacked the village
while most of the Nez Perce slept, the warriors quickly mounted a
resistance and drove the military men to retreat to a wooded hill
nearby. The soldiers dug trenches for protection, but the Nez Perce
warriors surrounded the fortified hill and held the soldiers there.
Meanwhile, the older men, women and children in the camp buried the dead
and fled again.
The Battle of the Big Hole lasted less than 36 hours, yet casualties
were dreadfully high. Between 60 and 90 Nez Perce men, women, and
children were killed, most in the initial attack on the sleeping camp.
How many Nez Perce were wounded in the battle is impossible to say, but
the number is doubtlessly high. Twenty-two soldiers, a civilian guide,
and five civilian volunteers were killed, and 39 more were severely
wounded.
From the Big Hole, the Nez Perce continued to flee from the military,
traveling east through Yellowstone National Park, then turning northward
and moving toward the Canadian border. There were several skirmishes
and encounters with federal troops in the weeks that followed the Battle
of the Big Hole, but it wasn't until early October that the US Army
finally succeeded in forcing most of the non-treaty Nez Perce to
surrender. About 150 escaped into Canada.
Most of the military men and civilian volunteers who fought at the
Big Hole returned to their posts or homes in Western Montana. General
Howard, the officer with primary responsibility for the Nez Perce
Campaign, arrived from Idaho with his troops to take up the chase just
two days after the military defeat here.
VISITATION:
About 60,000 per year: highest June through September; lowest November through January.
LOCATION:
ADDRESS:
Big Hole National Battlefield
P.O. Box 237
Wisdom, MT 59761
TELEPHONE:
OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:
Daily Summer: 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Daily Winter: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed: November 24, December 25 and
January 1.
CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:
Summers generally cool and breezy, with impressive mosquito
populations in June and early July. Summer thunderstorms are not
uncommon. Winters are frigid with deep snow. Bug repellent is
necessary in early summer; and layers of warm clothing required in
winter.
DIRECTIONS:
Big Hole National Battlefield is located ten miles west of Wisdom,
Montana on state highway 43. From I-15 at Dillon, Montana take highway
287 northwest to Wisdom, then highway 43, ten miles west. From I-15 at
Divide, take route 43 west through Wisdom to Battlefield. From
Missoula, Montana, take state route 93 south through the Bitterroot
Valley to Lost Trail Pass. Turn east on highway 43 and drive 17 miles
to the battlefield.
TRANSPORTATION:
To the park Big Hole National Battlefield is approximately 75 miles
southwest of Butte, Montana and about 110 miles southeast of Missoula,
Montana. There is no public transportation to the park.
FEES, COSTS, RATES:
Summertime only: two dollars per person or four dollars per family.
Golden Age, Golden Access and Golden Eagle Passes will be honored.
FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
Visitor Center/Exhibits:
The visitor center houses a
small museum with exhibits of Nez Perce, military clothing and
equipment, a 12 minute introductory video presentation, books sales,
area information, and a Junior Ranger activity program for first
through eighth grade.
Trails, Roads:
All are welcome to take a Self-Guided walk through the battlefield from
sunrise to sunset, daily.
The Nez Perce Camp Trail leads 1.2 miles round trip, to the site where
the Nez Perce were camped and attacked by United State Army soldiers and
civilian volunteers on the night of August 9, 1887.
The Siege Trail leads 1 mile round trip, to the area where the
soldiers and volunteers were held under siege by NezPerce warriors.
Programs/Activities:
Regularly scheduled ranger guided tours are available daily, in the
summer. Educational programs for schools are given throughout the
school year. Other groups are welcome and will be accommodated as
staffing permits. Reservations for school programs and other group
tours required. See our 1999 Calendar of
Events for more details.
LODGING AND CAMPING FACILITIES:
There is none in the park. Camping is available at several United
States Forest Service campgrounds within 20 miles; two small motels
offer rooms in Wisdom. More accommodations are available in Jackson, at
Lost Trail Pass, Dillon, Butte, Hamilton and Missoula.
FOOD/SUPPLIES:
There is no food service at the Battlefield. Wisdom, 10 miles west,
has two cafes and a small grocery store.
Other Concessions/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and
Opportunities:
The park bookshop, operated by the Glacier Natural History Association,
is located in the visitor center. Literature with a special emphasis on
the Nez Perce War, the Nez Perce culture, military life in the late
1800's and Montana natural history is available. For more information
or a mail order catalog, call(406) 689-3155.
ACCESSIBILITY:
The visitor center, rest rooms and picnic area are accessible. The
trails may be accessible to wheelchair users with help. They are packed
earth and can be muddy in spring.
RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:
Visiting the visitor center and museum exhibits, walking self guided
trails onto battlefield or joining in guided walks (summer only),
fishing (state license required), photography and wildlife watching
(moose, elk, raptors).
RESERVATIONS/PERMITS:
Reservations for school groups and other groups should be made three
weeks prior to your visit. Filming permits are arranged on an
individual basis. For additional information concerning reservations or
filming permits, call (406) 689-3155.
BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:
A minimum of four hours is recommended to view the museum exhibits,
watch the introductory film and walk the battlefield trails.
SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS:
Big Hole Valley Day --
Commemoration of the Battle of the Big Hole -- August 7-8, 1999
Call for specific times at (406) 689-3155.
VISITOR IMPACTS:
The road to the battlefield is closed in late autumn due to snow.
The visitor center remains open daily, and the battlefield is accessible
to skiers or snowshoers. The road normally reopens in late April, but
the exact date of reopening is weather dependent.
ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Big Hole Battlefield relies on the nerous donation of time from two
or three dedicated volunteers every summer. If you are interested in
applying as a volunteer, please visit
Volunteers In Parks or call
(406) 689-3155 for more information.
Students interested in summer internships at Big Hole National
Battlefield or any other park area should visit the
Student Conservation
Association or call (603) 543-1700 for more information.
.
Last Updated:Monday, 12-Jul-99 12:06:10
http://www.nps.gov/biho/
