Visitor Center Construction Project

Rendering of a single story building comprised of curved stone and wood design motifs. Sidewalks and a lawn are in front. — Architectural rendering of the new visitor center.
NPS

The Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Visitor Center Project, supported by Tribal Affiliates, Friends of Little Bighorn Battlefield, local communities, and stakeholders, aims to enhance the visitor experience and honor the site’s history.

The new building will provide ample space for visitors to walk through exhibits, visit the bookstore, and experience new venues like an outdoor viewing deck to take in the landscape. New exhibits will highlight a more comprehensive story of not only the battle, but focus on factors that led to the conflict and ultimately how the aftermath of the battle is still reverberating through communities and the west today. The new exhibits have provided the park the opportunity to work with Tribal Affiliates to highlight undertold stories, emphasize new research, and highlight Tribal Nation's continued resiliency and culture to the public.

Parking

Traffic patterns around the visitor center have been adjusted. Parking will be limited throughout the park, including around the temporary visitor center and along the Battle Tour Road.

Oversized Vehicles

Parking for oversized vehicles will be extremely limited. Please note that RVs, large vehicles, and any vehicles towing trailers will not be able to enter the parking lot near the temporary visitor center. There is no place to turn around an oversized vehicles at the park entrance. The option to turn around an oversized vehicle will be at the end of the tour road, 4.5 miles from the entrance. If possible, it is recommended to not bring in oversized vehicles.

Park Closures

Temporary Closures

Areas of the park may be temporarily closed due to construction.
Anticipated closures are listed below:

November 25 to project completion: Partial closure of visitor center parking lot. Oversized vehicles will not be allowed to park in visitor center parking lot and will need to use oversized vehicle parking along main park road. Oversized vehicles will not be able to turn around in vistor center parking lot.
November 9 to Present: Deep Raving Trail is closed.
November 9 to Present: Access to Last Stand Hill and Indian Memorial is by vehicle only. Walking up to Last Stand Hill and the Indian Memorial is unavailble.

Services During Full Park Closures

During full park closures, the National Park Service will have a visitor contact station at the Big Horn County Museum in Hardin, Montana. The museum, currently open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, also hosts the Western National Parks Association bookstore and offers viewings of the Little Bighorn park movie. Be sure to check www.bighorncountymuseum.org for the latest hours.

National Cemetery and Tribal Sites

Although the national cemetery is not located directly in the construction zone, guests should proceed with caution while visiting. If you have any questions, please ask NPS staff. For requests during closures related to visits, internments, or ceremonial activities, please contact e-mail us.

Visitor Services During Construction

During construction, visitor services will move to a temporary visitor contact station located in the visitor center parking lot. Vistors will be able to talk with park staff, gain information, stamp their passports, and purchase items at the bookstore.

The park film can be viewed at the Big Horn County Museum in Hardin, Montana. Western National Parks Association who operates the bookstore will also have items for sale at this location.

Project Updates

November 2024

The park is currently in Phase 1 Demolition. This includes the installation of a temporary visitor contact station and the major demolition. Contractors have fenced off the old visitor center and started asbestos abatement. Visitors are not permitted to walk around the old building and should stay outside of chainlink fence.