The city of Hardin is located in Big Horn County, Montana, and is enveloped in a rich history of cowboys and Native Americans and the rugged Old West. Celebrated pioneers like Lewis and Clark, George Armstrong Custer and John Bozeman settled on this land and began a city that is rich in ranching and farming and blessed with an abundance of natural wonders and scenic areas.
The Old West Pioneers were not the first to reside in Hardin. The area had been inhabited by the Crow Indians for centuries and archaeologists have discovered that it was populated by dinosaurs before that. To this day, each year the Crow celebrate their heritage at the Crow Fair while the descendants of the pioneers celebrate the Little Bighorn Battle. Unfortunately, the dinosaur festivities are non-existent.
One of the largest annual attractions in Hardin is the famous Custer’s Last Stand Re-enactment. This re-enactment of history is portrayed by over 200 participants and is listed by Destinations Magazine as one of the ‘Top 100 Events in America’. Other noteworthy attractions include several museums, scenic horse ranges and some of the best fly fishing areas in America. It is also worth mentioning that Hardin is not without its slightly mischievous side as it is home to a number of clubs, bars and rambunctious taverns.
Highlights
Arapooish State Park: is a family park located near the Bighorn River and is a great spot for a family picnic or leisure activities.
Big Horn County Museum: houses three impressive exhibition buildings and twenty historic structures.
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area: is the perfect camping destination and has beautiful hiking trails, excellent fishing opportunities and boat rides.
Bighorn River-World-Class Blue Ribbon Trout Stream: is only for the ‘real’ fisherman because the huge rainbow trout have been known to actually catch the inexperienced fishermen.
Custer Battlefield Museum: is the biggest Custer exhibit on display and shows where the Battle of the Little Bighorn began.
Jail House Gallery: is a travelling exhibit that features a wonderful collection of Western and Native American Art, jewellery, crafts and collectables.
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument: is the site a popular tourist attraction where visitors can see where Custer was defeated by the Cheyenne and Sioux warriors.
Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range: is a beautiful sanctuary for wild horses and currently houses over 160 of these magnificent animals.
St Xavier: was established in 1887 and still in use today; the church and the school are stunning examples of rustic American architecture.
Tongue River Reservoir: is located near Decker and offers water skiing, snorkelling and swimming and has some of the best fly fishing in the area.