Garryowen, Montana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Garryowen
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 Garryowen, Montana
Location in Montana
Garryowen, Montana
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
| County | Big Horn |
| Government | |
| • Type | Private Town |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1 sq mi (3 km2) |
| • Land | 2.6 sq mi (7 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,117 ft (950 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 2 |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
59031
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| Area code(s) | 406 |
| GNIS feature ID | 771723 |
Garryowen is a very small, private town in Big Horn County, Montana, United States. It is located in a historic area. This spot is very close to where the famous Battle of the Little Bighorn began. In fact, the first shots of the battle were fired just a short distance from where Garryowen stands today.
Garryowen has a population of only two people! The town mainly consists of one large building. This building is called the "Town Hall." It serves many purposes, including a petrol station and a convenience store. You can also find a Subway sandwich shop there. There's an arts and crafts store called "The Trading Post." The building also houses the Custer Battlefield Museum. This museum focuses on the Battle of the Little Bighorn and the time of the Indian Wars. The town of Garryowen is owned by Chris Kortlander. It was put up for sale in 2012, but no one registered to bid at the auction.
Contents
A Look at Garryowen's Past
In 1895, a railroad company, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy (now BNSF), built a small station. This station was on the Little Bighorn River. Trains would stop there to get water. They also dropped off US Army troops, supplies, and mail. These items were then taken to nearby forts and homes.
The station was named "Garryowen." This name came from a lively Irish song. This song was the marching tune for the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment.
Later, the land became part of the Crow Reservation. But the Crow tribe and the government eventually sold the land to private citizens. By 1926, Garryowen was privately owned. It was still mostly just a small market. Around this time, workers were digging an irrigation ditch. This was just before the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. They found almost a full skeleton of a soldier. There were also bullets and buttons nearby. This showed it was a Cavalry soldier. Many soldiers were missing after the battle, so they couldn't identify him. However, a special memorial service was planned for this "Unknown Soldier."
The plan was to bury the soldier in a monument in Garryowen. A "Burying of the Hatchet" ceremony also took place. During this, US government and Native American representatives smoked a peace pipe. They placed a tomahawk at the monument's base. This symbolized peace.
What to See in Garryowen
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier & Peace Memorial
This tomb is a special monument. It remembers the end of fighting between the Lakota-Cheyenne and the U.S. Government. It is described as the resting place of an unknown Army soldier. This soldier was from the battle's retreat.
Custer Battlefield Museum
The Custer Battlefield Museum has many items from the Battle of the Little Bighorn. You can also find books and souvenirs there.
Notable People
Henry Real Bird is from Garryowen. He was named the Poet Laureate of Montana in 2009. This is a special honor for a poet.
