As the nımí·pu· camp slept, Gen. John Gibbon caught up & directed his men to line up at the foot of the mountain on the west side of the river. They laid in wait until the early dawn hours to begin their attack. Their goal? Surprise the nımí·pu·, kill many, & demand surrender.

Around dawn, the troops moved in. An elder stumbled into the troops and was killed, opening the battle. Initially, the nımí·pu· scattered, but warriors regrouped and counterattacked. Within 2 hours, the troops were pushed away from the village and back across the valley.

The warrior Wahlitits and his wife tried to take cover. He shot and killed a soldier soon before being killed himself. His wife took up his rifle and shot the soldier who killed her husband. She was shot soon after. Her body was found laid atop her husband, as if protecting him.

nımí·pu· warriors began pushing back the 7th Infantry. This gave the survivors the opportunity to escape. The evening of August 10th, the nımí·pu· fired 'goodbye' shots to signify their departure upon hearing Army reinforcements were coming.

Mid-morning, an army howitzer and crew arrived. Firing only two rounds, the crew was charged by nımí·pu· warriors and the gun was overrun. To prevent it from further being used against them, the nımí·pu· disassembled the entire howitzer carriage and hid the pieces.

On their way up the mountain to capture the howitzer, nımí·pu· warriors called attention to themselves & then dove for cover, confusing the crew & gaining ground. To honor their bravery & victory, the tribe created the Duck & Dive dance, performed only by nımí·pu· at pow wows.

As the military sheltered in the siege area, nımí·pu warriors peeled away to help their families bury their dead and move camp. Finally, on the evening of August 10th, the last nımí·pu· warriors left the battle and were able to join their fleeing families.

Calling all educators! Our #CoyoteCamp is only 1 month away. This place based, day-camp is targeted for 4-8th graders. We're able to accommodate 200 students per day. Registration is required. For questions please email [email protected], or call 406-689-3155 x1023

Head over to Big Hole National Battlefield this weekend, Friday-Monday, for our Weekend Programing! We'll be having our 30 minute talks at 11AM and 1:30PM with our 1.5 hour tour at 10:30AM. Hope to see you there! #nps #bigholenationalbattlefield #NezPerce #montanahistory

Looking for something to do this weekend in beautiful Southwest Montana? Come to Big Hole National Battlefield and attend a 30 minute talk or a 1.5 hour tour. Talks and tours discuss the nimí·pu· (Nez Perce) Flight of 1877 and the Battle of the Big Hole. Hope to see you there!

Hours Update! Beginning Oct. 13th, we will be closed Sunday & Monday. Our hours will be 10AM-5PM throughout the winter and spring seasons. We had a great summer season with all of our visitors, thank you to all of those who were able to stop in and we hope to see you again soon!

It's #LaborDay! As you're enjoying the long weekend, now is a great time to be thankful for past and present labor movements that paved the way for now-standard practices like weekends off and safe workplaces. Together, we are building a world that respects and empowers all.

This weekend will be our last of summer programing! As usual, Fri-Mon, we will be having 30 min deck talks at 11AM and 1:30PM and 1.5 hour battlefield tours at 10:30AM. Thank you to everyone who joined in on our programing this season and we hope to see ya'll this weekend! #nps

September marks the rut season for the elk, known as wewukiye in niimiipuutímt! Males become very territorial so make sure to give them plenty of space. It is common to see them make their way through the Big Hole Battlefield in the mornings. #nps #Montana

Hello, folks! Hunting season is upon us & so is the time to remind everyone that hunting w/in the battlefield boundaries is prohibited. We will close the lower lot gate by 4:30pm MT daily for the duration of hunting season. Questions? Give us a call!

It's #NationalMuleDay! Farmers & ranchers have used mules throughout history, especially in this valley. The military also had use of them. During the battle of the Big Hole, a pack of mules pulled the mountain howitzer and carried 2,000 rounds of ammunition.

It's #NationalBisonDay! The nımí·pu· (Nez Perce), like many other tribes, relied on bison as a resource in many ways. Traditionally, they stopped in the Big Hole Valley to replenish & restore on their way to hunt in bison country. Check out the BLA, signed in 2016, for more info!

Hello, folks! During the upcoming holiday season, we will close our visitor center for short periods. Our grounds will remain open to the public dawn-dusk. Please see below for more details. #Christmas #NewYear2025

UPDATED HOURS: Our visitor center is now open Wednesday through Sunday, 9am to 5pm, with ranger-led deck talks offered daily at 11am and 2pm. Our park movie can be viewed throughout the day by request as well. Park grounds and trails are open sunrise to sunset every day.

During the federal government shutdown, this account will continue to share critical information about park access, safety, and resources. Some services may be limited. For more details, visit: doi.gov/shutdown