THE MEDICINE WHEEL

The Medicine Wheel is a National Historic Landmark, the Medicine
Wheel was constructed sometime between 1200 and 1700 A.D.
Hundreds of limestone rocks were placed in the shape of a wheel
roughly 80 feet in diameter.
There are 28 spokes that radiate to the wheel’s “rim”
Six smaller cairns are placed at intervals around the rim.

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This site is high in the Bighorn Mountains, in Wyoming at
9,640 feet, on the ancestral lands of the Crows. The reservation
encompassed most of Wyoming at the time.
This spiritual place is above timberline with magnifice
views in all directions. Who constructed it and why are not known.

 The webmaster’s grandfather Joe Boyd went to the Medicine
Wheel, July 11, 1916.
The following negative was found in his belongings willed to
his son. The trip was led by a Crow Indian scout called “Cut Ear.”

The purpose was to visit the Medicine Wheel on Medicine Mountain
and to search for a reported second medicine wheel. They hoped
to have both designated as a National Park. The complete news
article is included. This is Cut Ear. Notice his 1900 census below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 11, 1916

Sheridan Post

Page 1, Column 6

Sheridan, Wyoming

BOOST PARK IN BIG HORNS

PARTY RETURNS FROM WEEK OF EXPLORATION.

MEDICINE WHEEL

The second medicine wheel was found a short distance from first country and easy to reach.

 

“It is the best mountain trip I have ever made. The scenery is second to none between the Mexican and the Canadian borders, not excepting the
national parks, it is the most easy of access, the easiest traveled and the most interesting of any place I have ever been.”

That was the verdict of W.M. Camp, of Chicago, traveler, student writer.
At the close of a week spent in the Big Horn mountains with a party which included several Sheridan men. Mr Camp came down from the Big Horns last Saturday and caught the train for the east. The rest of the party retuned yesterday.
 Those who made the trip were Mr. Camp, J.C. Shepherd, an artist from Chicago;
 Fred Decker and H.H. Thompson, of Sheridan: Joe Boyd, Tom LaForge and
Cut Ear, a Crow scout.

Aside from the outing, the party had two objects in visiting the medicine wheel on Medicine mountain and search for a reported second medicine wheel; and to look over the ground with a view to determining the feasibility and desirability
of a national park. In both they were successful.

Going to the old medicine wheel, they spent some time studying it and recreating the scenes of the old days when the various tribes went there, leaving behind all weapons, to worship a common deity on neutral ground. They then journeyed over
practically all of that country from Tongue river north to the Big Horn and fixed in their own minds, the natural boundaries of a national park. The boundaries are the Big Horn canyon, Devil’s canyon and the Black Canyon. Within that section they found the finest natural scenery, the most admirable camping places, the most natural advantages for a game preserve, although the most attractive out land, that it is possible to conceive.
Mr. Camp, as well as all other members of the part, was delighted wit the project of converting that groups into a national playground and gave assurance that he will do all in his power to have it brought about.

On of the best features of the section is that it is so easily reached. While the mountains raise approximately 4,000 feet above the level of the sloping country,the grade is lass than three percent along the trail followed by the party and an automobile road could be constructed without the least difficulty. That was one point
that appealed strongly to Mr. Camp, the accessibility of the country and the ease of the trip.

The trail which was followed has historic interest as well as practical attractions,being the old government trail used between Fort Smith and For Kearney. It was later used by loggers and mountaineers. It follows along the east side of Black canyon.

The park which the party outlined and for which they will launch a campaign
is largely in Wyoming but extends into Montana.

The party was also successful in finding a new medicine wheel, it being in
 all respects like the one on Medicine mountain, so well known to many people
 and evidently by the an antiquity and used by the same Indians for the same purposes.
 Many of the relics found about the wheel are of the same nature as those found at the
 better known wheel. The two are separated by 60-70 miles of mountainous country.

A unique experience was afforded the party at the medicine wheel, they went through
all the ancient rites and ceremonies o f the Indians prescribe for such places. In that
they were directed by Cut Ear. the ceremonies were inconceivably weird and mystical
and furnished thrills which endured for days afterwards. Following the ceremonies,
the party slept on the wheel as was the custom of the Indian visitors many years gone by.

Editors Note: There is now a high fence around the wheel. Cars have to park a mile down the hill and visitors must walk up to the Medicine Wheel.

More on Medicine Wheel coming.

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