The battlefield, now known as the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, was established as a national monument in 1886 and was known, until 1991, as the Custer Battlefield National Monument. The Crow Fair Powwow, Rodeo and Race Meet is the largest Northern Plains Indian celebration in Montana, and one of the biggest powwows in the country. Crow Fair, which always begins on the third Thursday in August, attracts more than 10,000 Native Americans from all over North America. A village of 800 white tepees spread along the banks of the Little Bighorn River. Children race their ponies through the grass and water them in the river.
Colorful morning parades wind their way through the village.
An All Indian Rodeo is held each afternoon at the nearby racetrack arena. The evenings are reserved for the Powwow dance contests, which go well into the night. The Crow Fair is held each August for the reunion of family clan, and the celebration of their culture. It is not intended for tourist consumption, though they are welcome to attend. This area was established in 1968 to provide a well maintained sanctuary for wild horses.