Custer Guidon Program at Cultural Heritage Center

– Local historian Bill Markley will present a program about an artifact in the Museum of South Dakota State Historical Society’s collection thought to be one of seven guidons (GUY-dons) from the Battle of the Little Bighorn at 2 p.m. CDT on Sunday, Oct. 6, at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre.
 
The presentation, entitled “The Question of Authenticity and the Custer Guidon,” is based on an article Markley wrote for True West magazine in May. There is no fee to attend the program.
 
A guidon is swallow-tail flag that military companies carried as formation markers and rallying points, and they were often sources of pride for soldiers who wished to ensure their company flag was not captured in battle.   
 
Markley’s presentation will trace the known history of the guidon in the collection of the State Historical Society, while sharing compelling evidence to suggest that the piece is original and just one of three guidons known to exist today.  
 
“We are very excited to bring Mr. Markley to the Cultural Heritage Center to speak about the guidon,” commented Jay Smith, museum director.  “It is a remarkable story that weaves together important aspects of museum work from research to collection preservation from an event that occurred more than 137 years ago to present day.”  
 
Markley moved to Pierre in 1976 to work for the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and he has immersed himself in local history as well as participating in Civil War and Western frontier reenacting. Markley worked on the films Dances With Wolves, Son of the Morning Star, Far and Away, Gettysburg and Crazy Horse.