Early History of the Custer Battlefield and Park
Superintendents, 1893 – 1958 by Michael L. Nunnally In the years
following the 1876 battle, the Custer Battlefield began a rich
history of its own. The battlefield languished for a number of
years until 1893 when A.N. Grover was appointed as the park’s
first superintendent and guardian. Grover and a number of his
early fellow superintendents faced a number of hardships in the
wild and remote area of Montana. Lack of running water, shelter
and the haunting isolation were the most common complaints. A
great deal of praise must go to these early superintendents,
known among the Crows as the “ghost herders,” and their families
for their contributions to the National Park Service. Most of
the information contained here comes from Don Rickey, Jr.‘s
History of Custer Battlefield published in 1967. Dr. Rickey
served as area historian at the park from 1955 to 1960. 1876:
The Battle of the Little Bighorn. 1877: Reburial of soldiers and
removal of officers. 1879: Cordwood