Bear River Massacre Site Captured in National Historic Landmark Photo Contest

Mike Mohan, Publisher in Native Challenges. Discussion »

PRESTON, IDAHO – The Northwestern Band of Shoshone will gather for the 150th anniversary of the Bear River Massacre on January 29th. The battle here between Shoshoni and the US Army resulted in the deaths of as many as 384 Shoshoni men, women and children, and 14 soldiers in 1863.

Roxie Crouch of Willard, Utah captured the site on a late January day, receiving an honorable mention in this year's National Historic Landmark Photo Contest.

Photo by Roxie Crouch of Willard, Utah

Ms. Crouch noted:

Near Preston Idaho This is the site of one of the most horrific Native American massacres in US history and one of the least known. The Shoshoni tribe would spend winters at this bend of the Bear River because of the natural hot springs (bottom right corner of photo.) They were attacked and nearly wiped out by Col. Conner. I grew up in this area and I am just beginning to learn about this historical place. This photo was taken in late January at about the same time that the massacre occurred.

Shoshoni Village between 1880 - 1910

Renamed the Massacre of Bear River by the National Park Service in 1993, is located near US Route 91. Also known as Bear River Battleground or Massacre at Boa Ogoi, the site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1990. Northwestern Band of Shoshone acquired the sacred site in 2008 to protect it.

One important purpose of the annual National Historic Landmark Photo Contest is to encourage people to discover and explore landmark sites across the country and be inspired by our past. To see all this year's photo entries, visit the Flickr contest pool and see all of this year's winners.

posted November 9, 2012 6:00 am est