Custer's last residence

Dear Family and Friends,

Another adventure we had while visiting Bismark, ND was also at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park. This is where the 7th calvary headed by Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer was stationed.  It was from this location that they set out for Little Big Horn.

Custer and his wife, Libbie, lived on Fort Abraham Lincoln from 1873 until Custer died at the Battle of the Little Big Horn in the spring of 1876.  Approximately 500 troops were also stationed there. Custer's first home at the fort was built in the summer of 1873, but it burned down in February 1874. Today the house and seven other major fort buildings, including a barracks, the fort's makeshift theater, and a stable building have been rebuilt.

Matt took this picture of us with the sign at the entrance to the fort.  If we look cold, it is because we were.

We were able to tour Custer's house which has been rebuilt exactly as it was in 1875.

This is a picture of the main rooms - Parlor and Dining Room.

Another view of the Parlor.

This is the Dining Room.

and the kitchen.

Another interesting room downstairs was a room for bathing.  It was not a bathroom as we know it because it did not have a toilet or shower but it had this funny looking tub.  Mrs. Custer said bathing in it was like bathing in a thimble.

This is a card table in a game room upstairs.

Notice that the cards do not have numbers on them.  You had to count the number of suit characters yourself.

This is Custer's actual field desk.  It was in transit to Little Big Horn but he was killed before it arrived.

The master bedroom.  The bed seemed quite short for a six foot tall man.  The guide told us that it was the custom of the day to sleep propped up.  This was thought to prevent tuberculosis.

Upon leaving the house, we saw their outhouse.

I imagine that was a long walk in the North Dakota winters.

We had a wonderful time filled with history.

Next time I will share some spectacular photos from Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Love,

Nancy