Preservation Thursday: Battle of the Greasy Grass (Little Big Horn)

Donovin Sprague (Courtesy photo)

DEADWOOD – Deadwood History, Inc. and the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission, in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Deadwood and the Black Hills, will host a presentation by university instructor, author, and historian Donovin Sprague at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center (HARCC), 150 Sherman Street, Deadwood. The event is free for members and $5 for non-members.

This presentation by Donovin Sprague commemorates the 150th anniversary of the June 25–26, 1876, Battle of the Greasy Grass, also known as the Battle of the Little Big Horn, with an in-depth overview of the events leading up to the conflict, the battle itself, and its aftermath. Through photographs and unfolding maps, the program highlights the participants, with special attention to Native perspectives and the lasting importance of the event in Lakota history. The presentation concludes with a discussion of the final battle encampments and current developments at Little Bighorn National Monument. Donovin Sprague is a direct descendant of several individuals who fought in the battle, including High Backbone (Hump) and Crazy Horse, offering a personal and historically grounded perspective. A book signing will follow the presentation.

Donovin Sprague, a Minnicoujou Lakota and enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, was born and raised in Dupree, South Dakota, on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. A respected historian and educator, he serves on the history faculty at Sheridan College in Wyoming, where he also advises Native American students. Sprague is the author of ten historical books and is widely recognized for his work as a tour guide, artisan, musician, and cultural consultant. He has shared his expertise on prominent stages, including as a featured speaker at the 125th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, and continues to contribute to significant commemorations, including the upcoming 150th anniversary. Most recently, he presented to Lakota and Dakota tribal leadership at the grand opening of tribally acquired land on the southern end of the Little Bighorn Battlefield, offering a focused and meaningful interpretation of the history tied directly to that landscape.

Preservation Thursday is co-sponsored by Deadwood History, Inc., Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission, Adams-Mastrovich Family Foundation, A&B Business Solutions, Black Hills Pioneer, Deadwood Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau, and the Historic Homestake Opera House.

The post Preservation Thursday: Battle of the Greasy Grass (Little Big Horn) first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

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