Monroe, MI – August 8, 2008 – For 61 years, the Monroe County Fair has been officially attracting visitors, but records indicate the fair’s roots may extend back nearly two centuries. Perhaps, as a boy growing up in Monroe during the 1850s, famed Civil War General and Union Hero George Custer may have celebrated summer by attending these annual expositions.

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Posted by Ronda

Steve Alexander will be appearing as General Custer at the Monroe County Fair today–Sunday, July 27–at 1 o’clock. He will also appear on Wednesday, July 30th at 6 o’clock. Look for him at the Custer Celebraton booth in the South Exhibit Building.

Anyone who would like to pick up schedules and literature for the upcoming Custer Celebration is invited to stop in and see us anytime throughout Fair Week.

Posted by Ronda

As this is being typed, Custer living historian Steve Alexander is on the same trail that the general rode in 1876 on his way to the Battle of Little Big Horn. Look for regular updates in the Monroe Evening News or online at monroenews.com.

The first two installments of this series are linked below:

1. Custer’s Ride Revisited by Local Reenactor
2. Revisiting Gen. George A. Custer’s Last Ride: The Custer House

Posted by Ronda

Monroe’s Custer Celebration has made a YouTube account and will be uploading movies of interest to all Custer buffs and history lovers. Here’s our first video inviting visitors to Monroe for the 2008 Custer Celebration:

We are pleased to announce that a page just for kids will soon be added to Monroe’s Custer Celebration Blog. The Custer Celebration Events Committee is partnering with local Boy Scouts to produce a page with links, fun facts, activities and other cool stuff for the younger set. Check back often for this exciting new addition to the blog!

Posted by Ronda 

When I was about seven or eight, I used to sneak away whenever possible for a few moments of adventure with one of my older brother’s paperback Western books.

One of my favorites had short stories on different Western personalities like Buffalo Bill Cody. Inside was an illustration of a man who looked to me to be 7 feet tall, with a buckskin jacket and long golden locks. Years later, I was able to visit his grave in Golden, Colorado with my family.

Buffalo Bill may not have really been 7 feet tall, but he has enthralled children for over one hundred and thirty years. His strength, bravery and love of showmanship are legendary throughout the world.

Most Monroe residents know that Buffalo Bill and Monroe’s own General Custer were friends. They, along with General Phil Sheridan, accompanied the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia on a buffalo hunt out west in 1872 during the duke’s visit to this country.

This period of time in history is the theme of Monroe’s Custer Celebration 2008. Monroe will be visited by Buffalo Bill re enactor Kirk Shapland who will share stories of his times with General Custer. More details will be posted as we near the dates. In the meantime, enjoy this link to the Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave.

If you have any links related to Custer and/or Monroe that you’d like to share, please send them to us at monroescustercelebrationblog@live.com.