 Nearly two years prior to the Battle of the Little Bighorn, General George Custer let a reconnaissance expedition through the Black Hills of Wyoming and South Dakota. This expedition was the first documented trip by the United States government or people of European descent through the region. The expedition left from Fort Lincoln near present-day Bismarck, North Dakota with more than 100 wagons and 1,000 people. On July 18th, the expedition reached the Bear Lodge Mountain in Northern Crook County. From here they traveled south near present-day Aladdin then to Sundance, Wyoming. The expedition then moved into the Black Hills near Indian Cara Mountain. Adventure was a common theme on the reconnaissance expedition as the group traveled through new territory. The journey was not easy and several deaths occurred along the way. A photographer named William Illingworth was assigned to the expedition. Illingworth's photos not only documented the expedition at the time but also provided a glimpse into the past. The historic photos have been compared with recent photos to document landscape and plant community changes. Many of the prominent landmarks and the route documented by the expedition can be easily followed along present-day roads and highways. From the University of Wyoming Extension, I'm Mae Smith, Exploring the Nature of Wyoming.