Spirit Mound Historic Prairie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spirit Mound Historic Prairie |
|
|---|---|
Spirit Mound
|
|
 Spirit Mound Historic Prairie
Location in South Dakota
|
|
| Location | Clay, South Dakota, United States |
| Area | 320 acres (130 ha) |
| Elevation | 1,280 ft (390 m) |
| Established | 2001 |
| Governing body | South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks |
Spirit Mound Historic Prairie is a special state park in South Dakota, USA. It has a famous hill called Spirit Mound. For a long time, Native American tribes believed this hill was home to dangerous spirits or "little people."
In 1804, explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark visited the mound. The park was officially created in 2002. You can find it about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) north of Vermillion, South Dakota.
Contents
The Mystery of Spirit Mound
Many Native American tribes in the West have stories about "Little People." In 1804, the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition met with the Wičhíyena Sioux tribe. On August 25, Lewis, Clark, and ten other men traveled about 9 miles (14 km) to see the "mountain of the Little People."
Stories of the Little People
Lewis wrote in his journal that the Sioux described these Little People as "devils." They were said to be about 18 inches (46 cm) tall with very large heads. The Sioux believed these tiny beings were very quick and protective of their land. They carried sharp arrows that could hit from far away. The stories said they would kill anyone who came too close to their mound.
The local tribes, like the Omaha, Otoe, and Sioux, were so scared of these Little People that they avoided the area. Even the Lakota people, who later lived near Spirit Mound, have a story. It tells of 350 warriors who went near the mound at night. They were almost completely wiped out by the fierce Little People. The few who survived were hurt for life.
A Historic Landmark
Today, Spirit Mound is one of the few places that historians can say for sure Lewis and Clark stood on. This is because the Missouri River has been changed a lot by dams.
Protecting Spirit Mound's History
For many years, Spirit Mound was owned by private people. This led to changes on the land. White settlers arrived in 1868 and used the area for farming and raising animals. By the early 1980s, five different owners had parts of the site. There were buildings, farms, roads, and fences all over the land.
Saving the Prairie
In 1986, some local people formed a group called the Spirit Mound Trust. They wanted to save the site. Their efforts gained attention after a book called Undaunted Courage (about Lewis and Clark) came out in 1996. A documentary by Ken Burns in 1997 also helped.
After years of hard work, the U.S. government provided $600,000 to buy the land. This money came from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The deal required South Dakota to make it a state park. The Spirit Mound Trust promised to restore the land, add signs for visitors, offer tours, and raise $500,000 for its long-term care.
The 320-acre (130 ha) site was bought from the private owners in 2001. On July 29, 2001, Senator Tim Johnson gave a special check for the purchase.
A National Recreation Trail
In 2004, the United States Department of the Interior named the path to the top of Spirit Mound a National Recreation Trail. This means it's a special trail for people to enjoy.
The Spirit Mound Creek flows right past the southern side of the Mound.
A Small Debate
When the state park was created, some Native American leaders were a bit worried. They felt that a place so sacred and scary to their tribes might be seen as just a "fun" place to visit.
