HISTORY OF THE WIND RIVER RESERVATION

& HISTORIC SITES

FORT WASHAKIE, WYOMING
WIND RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION

Fort Washakie was named to honor the famous Shoshone Indian Chief Washakie in 1878. The Fort was built in 1871 as a typical 19th century frontier post on the newly created Shoshone Indian Reservation by the 1868 Treaty at Fort Bridger.

Chief Washakie, the last chief of the Shoshones (1798-1900) participated in the early peace treaties of 1851, 1863, and 1868. Washakie, meaning gourd rattle, had the foresight to the inevitable westward settlement and migration of white immigrants onto ancestral tribal territory. During this painful period and with the severe treatment of Indians at the hands of the United States Government, Washakie allowed unmolested travel through this territory in exchange for the reservation known as the Wind River Indian Reservation.

Fort Washakie served as a military post from 1871 to 1909, then was changed to an Indian Agency in 1913 to the present. Fort Washakie is listed in the National Register of Historical Places.

Today, Fort Washakie is a small community within the Wind River Indian Reservation. In the Historical District, still standing are many of the late 1800’s buildings, early 1900’s buildings, World War II housing and the Depression Era/New Deal architecture. Members of the Shoshone Tribe, including Washakie’s descendants are residents of Fort Washakie.

HISTORIC BUILDINGS REMAIN

Tile Wind River Indian Reservation was established for the Shoshone Indians in 1868. Camp Auger, a military post with troops was established at the present site of Lander on June 28, 1869. In 1870 the name was changed to Camp Brown and in 1871 the post was moved to the current site of Fort Washakie. Tile name was changed to honor the Shoshone chief in 1878 and continued to serve as a military post until its abandonment in 1909.

Reverend John Roberts came to the reservation in 1883 and started an Episcopal Mission near Fort Washakie. He later constructed a school for Shoshone girls and remained to minister to the people for 60 years until his death in 1949.

Sacajawea, the wife of Charbonneau, who helped guide the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the Pacific in 1803-06, is believed to have returned to her people, the Shoshones, after many years of being away sometime in the 1850’s. She lived with the band where her son Baptiste and nephew Basil were sub-chiefs and came to the reservation with them in 1871. She was known as Porivo or Lost Woman. She died at nearly 100 years of age in 1884 and was buried in what is now called Sacajawea Cemetery near Fort Washiakie.

Several buildings from the fort remain, including stone cavalry barns, a block house dating from 1869 and several other early structures. Chief Washakie died in 1900 and was given a military funeral and buried at the post cemetery near the fort.

A government school and hospital functioned for many years east of Ft. Washakie and children were sent here to board during the school year. St. Michael’s Mission at Ethete was constructed in 1917-20.

Arapahoe was originally established as a sub-agency to distribute rations to the Arapahoes and at one time had a large trading post conducted by John Burnett.

In 1906 a portion of the reservation was ceded to white settlement and Riverton evolved on some of this land.

Lands were allotted in the 1890’s to the various families and names were anglicized. Irrigation was brought in to develop farming and ranching and a flour mill constructed near Fort Washakie.

The Shoshone and Arapahoe have rich cultures to teach their children the history, languages and values of their ancestors.

Bah-gue-wana
(Smoking Water)

Long, long ago according to a Shoshone legend, a young chief and his maiden friend were walking one evening in what white men now called Wind River Canyon. A strong wind picked an eagle feather from the Chief's hair and Wafted it down the canyon. Since the right to wear the feather had been won with much danger to his life in attacking an enemy, the young warrior and his sweetheart ran, following the feather. They found it close beside a vent where steam issued from the earth. Knowing that the Great Spirit had led them, they were not afraid. They bathed in the warm springs and told their tribe about them. So the tribe came and camped nearby; everyone bathed; aches of the old were cured; young warriors became even more strong and vigorous
Since the arrival of the first explorer, the White men had been intrigued by mineral deposits, a natural phenomenon in the north western corner of Wyoming. John Colter had described sulphurous deposits and mineral springs in such fantastic terms that his friends.
In 1875, Thomas Maghee, post surgeon at Camp Brown (Fort Washakie) went on a reconnaissance trip to the Great Spring (Thermopolis) for a first hand inspection of the wonders that he had heard of so often. He proceeded down the Bighorn over a well-used Indian trail until he arrived at the spring at the mouth of Owl Creek. The mineral deposit from the spring sloped both to the north and the to the south from it's middle, along which an artificial conduit was formed. The main part on the east included the enormous spring which gushed from the butte, seventy-five yards to the stream.
There is no record of Colter's description of the wonders he saw at the sulphur spring between Shoshone River and Heart Mountains. Yet the bottles of water which he later analyzed were found to possess important mineral qualities.
Washakie, the great chief of the Shoshone Nation, was a remarkable man, he possessed a great dignity and pride in his simple but significant possessions. The walls of his cabin were covered with pictures of his exploits in battle, which with the help of his son Charlie. He painted the great relish as the relived the days when he was a famous warrior. He was proud to the last of the medallion and the handsome saddle which the Great White Father had given him.
Washakie had frequently boasted of this great "healing waters" where he and his people had spent much time. They drank it and bathed in it to relieved their joints, aching from the infirmities of age. The white man, too, had rheumatism and other muscular ailments that could be relieved. The Shoshone named this place bah-gue-wana (smoking water), they came often to bathe, they camped some distance away, as they regarded the Hot Springs with awe and some what feared them. Fur trappers and later cowboys also enjoyed the warm healing waters.
In the summer of 1883, a milestone was passed in Indian-white relations: for the first time, a United States President visited Western Indians on their own soil. The deserving recipients of the honor were the Shoshones, whose friendship with the government had endured for nearly 80 years and who had been invaluable military allies. Inactual fact, however, it was not gratitude nor even simple good will that prompted President Chester Arthur to Travel to their reservation in Wyoming. It was trout (yes,fish). Suffering from poor health, Arthur felt he needed a quiet sportsman's holiday at Yellowstone National Park. In planning the trip, his aides scheduled a stopover at the Shoshone agency simply because it's location and facilities qualified it as a suitable way station. President Chester Arthur relaxed with members of his entourage in the locale Washakie hot Springs near Fort Washakie.
Since the Hot Springs were on the Wind River Reservation, again white men were looking longingly at a chosen part of the land that had been Shoshones since the Treaty of 1868.
James McLaughlin, United States Indian inspector was sent to the Wind River Reservation in 1896 to negotiate with the Shoshones for the sale of ten square miles of land including Hot Springs. Then back at Fort Washakie he met in council with the Indians, explaining that the government would pay them $60,000.00 for this land. When he had finished, Washakie arose and said:
Now you will hear what I have to say. A good many years ago I used to live near Fort Bridger, called Piney. Then there was a man like you came to see me and asked, "Where is your country? Where is your country? Is it here, or there, or is it over the mountains, where the hot springs are? (Meaning both hot springs)* After I got here I stayed here. After the game was gone then I told my agent to write to Washington. I want to sell those springs. I used to go to the hot springs on Owl Creek when the game and buffalo were there, and stay there. When buffalo were plenty I wintered there. Now I have moved away from there and have come over in this country. I was afraid a little. One hot spring (the one near the agency) is enough for me, my people, and the soldiers.
* By "both hot springs," the chief included a smaller spring (Washakie Plunge) at the agency. It was made into an attractive swimming pool with modern facilities, in 1957, at a cost of approximately $250,000.00.
Chief Washakie was the only one who spoke for the Shoshones as his people had complete confidence in his decisions. When the treaty was finally signed, Chief Washakie was the first one to put his X on the paper, saying, "I have given you the springs. My heart feels good." So it was April 21, 1896 that the old chief signed his last treaty with the United States government, But before he signed it he made one request: that part of the water of Hot Springs remain forever free to all people, and that a campground be reserved for the use of Indians. In 1897 the agreement was confirmed.
"Gift of the Waters," a pageant in commemoration of Chief Washakie and the Shoshone gift of Hot Springs for the use of mankind, is enacted each year on the first Saturday and Sunday in August. The Indians are in full costume. Chief Dick Washakie played the part of his father when the pageant was first given in 1925.
The Chief Washakie Plunge and Bath House provides year-round swimming and bathing in mineral water from natural hot springs. This is tribally owned and operated and is open to the public. There is a small fee to enter.