In 1877, the Nez Perce fought a delaying action against the U.S. Army's 7th Infantry Regiment here on August 9 and 10, during their failed attempt to escape to Canada.

Just east of the continental divide at Chief Joseph Pass, Big Hole National Battlefield is located on 975.61 acres (3.9 km2)[1] (including 320 acres/1.3 km2 privately held),[1] ten miles (16 km) west of Wisdom on Montana Highway 43.

Fearing U.S. Army retaliation, Chief Joseph decided that the best way to avoid the official U.S. Government policy of forcing Native Americans onto reservations was to escape to Canada, where he believed that his people would be treated differently and they could unite with Sitting Bull, leader of a band of Lakota there.

Six weeks after leaving their homeland, U.S. Army forces performed a predawn attack on the men, women, and children encamped at Big Hole.

The Nez Perce mounted a fierce resistance and managed to overwhelm the attacking force, cornering them on a hillside.

After the battle the Nez Perce fled east through Yellowstone National Park, then headed north.

In October 1877, only 40 miles (64 km) from the Canada–US border in Montana's Bear Paw Mountains, the starving and exhausted Nez Percé surrendered to the U.S.

Approximately 200-250 Nez Perce warriors escaped to Canada prior to the surrender, leaving 417 women, children and elderly.