50 V i s i t www.theculturalexperience.com C a l l 0345 475 1815 The Victorian Era Custer & The Indian wars the little big horn anniversary, re-enactment and YellowStone This tour explores the magnificent 'Big Sky' country of Montana and the Black Hills of Dakota - the evocative landscape of the 'Old West'. At the end of the Civil War European settlers expanded into this and the Native American inhabitants chose to fight back. The Sioux nation inflicted a series of unexpected reverses on the United States Army, culminating in the massacre of Custer's 7th Cavalry Regiment at Little Bighorn in 1876. We follow the course of these battles whilst exploring the natural wonders of the Black Hills including the majestic Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Monument. We will end in the Yellowstone National Park, where the scenery is truly magnificent and simply unmissable when visiting this part of the United States. A highlight of the tour will be the splendid re-enactment of Little Bighorn which takes place on the banks of the very river. Your guide will be Bob Kershaw, author of ‘Red Sabbath’, a definitive history of Custer’s ill-fated campaign, and who knows the ground intimately and will dispel a number of Custer myths and examine how the native Americans were able to check the vastly superior US Army in the West after a hard fought Civil War. 18 – 27 June 2018 10 Days with Col Bob Kershaw Activity Level 2 Essentials Return flights from London, 3 and 4 star hotels, buffet breakfast, 3-course dinner with drinks each evening, all entrance fees and expert guide throughout. Tour Price: £3995 Single supplement: £525 Deposit: £400 Price without flights: £3095 The years following the Civil War up to the end of the century saw a resumption of the ’white man’s’ expansion into the American West, unsettling the Native Americans who were not prepared to let their hunting grounds and way of life be destroyed: they proved to be particularly worthy foes. In 1867 the Sioux wiped out an entire company of US Cavalry in the Fetterman Massacre and fought the iconic Wagon-Box action against overwhelming odds the following year. In 1871 the discovery of gold in the Black Hills accelerated the clash of cultures so that when the US Army attempted to force Indian 'roamers' onto government reservations, war ensued. The campaign was a debacle, Crook's column was worstedattheRosebudon17thJune1876and nine days later Custer's 7th Cavalry command was massacred at Little Bighorn. Day 1 - Fly Out. Fly London to Rapid City, South Dakota. Transfer to Custer and check-in to our hotel for two nights. Day 2 - The Black Hills. We drive through the Custer State Park and the Black Hills, sacred to the Sioux Nation, and follow the trail of Custer’s expedition. Here we will see the Mount Rushmore national monument with its massive carvings of four American presidents and the Crazy Horse Monument. Day 3 – Buffalo. We take a long, scenic drive to Buffalo. On arrival we investigate the grim site of the Fetterman Massacre and the incredible Wagon Box Fight. We move onto Sheridan, where we check into our hotel for four nights. Day 4 – Rosebud. Explore the remote battlefield of the Rosebud, where Crook's Column was worsted by the same Sioux who "Bob Kershaw’s expertise in both the subject matter and in the running of the tour shone through – brilliant all round."