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Little Bighorn Battlefield eyes possible move of museum collection, archives

LITTLE BIGHORN BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL MONUMENT — In two cramped rooms in the basement of the visitor center at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, treasures are everywhere.

In drawers and filing cabinets, on shelves and in display cases, there are nearly 120,000 priceless artifacts, documents and books.

There is a large parchment commission, dated 1861 and signed by President Abraham Lincoln, appointing George A. Custer a second lieutenant in the Army's second regiment of cavalry. There is a 7th Cavalry silk guidon, carried off by the victors at the Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876, and recovered a few months later at the Battle of Slim Buttes.

There are guns and knives, boots and canteens, buttons, belt buckles, spurs and ribbons, original photographs, shell casings, military records, hundreds of rare books and Native American accoutrements and sacred items. There is even Custer's "U.S. Army suspensory bandage," more commonly known today as an athletic supporter.LITTLE BIGHORN BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL MONUMENT — In two cramped rooms in the basement of the visitor center at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, treasures are everywhere.

In drawers and filing cabinets, on shelves and in display cases, there are nearly 120,000 priceless artifacts, documents and books.

There is a large parchment commission, dated 1861 and signed by President Abraham Lincoln, appointing George A. Custer a second lieutenant in the Army's second regiment of cavalry. There is a 7th Cavalry silk guidon, carried off by the victors at the Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876, and recovered a few months later at the Battle of Slim Buttes.

There are guns and knives, boots and canteens, buttons, belt buckles, spurs and ribbons, original photographs, shell casings, military records, hundreds of rare books and Native American accoutrements and sacred items. There is even Custer's "U.S. Army suspensory bandage," more commonly known today as an athletic supporter....
Read entire article at Billings Gazette