Victor in Ontario County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Onondowahgah
People of the Great Hill
Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, October 26, 2018
1. Onondowahgah Marker
People of the Great Hill
The Seneca are known in their own language as Onondowahgah, or People of the Great Hill.
Tradition relates that long ago two men paddling home from a hunting trip found a small brightly colored serpent floating on a leaf. They put this serpent in their canoe and took it home.
The people were much amazed and the whole town fed the snake. The snake grew until it was no longer satisfied with insects or mice but craved rabbits, then deer, and even bear. When the people became exhausted from feeding it, the great snake broke out of its pen and began eating them.
[2] So huge was the snake, and so ravenous its appetite, that it soon ate all the people of the town. Then it began hunting human beings, going from town to town, spreading terror and death. Finally, all were eaten except the people who lived on a great hill overlooking Canandaigua Lake.
There, in a dream, a boy and a girl were told to make a bow of white pine, a string from the girl's hair, and an arrow of dogwood tipped with a pure white arrowhead. These two, the last survivors, shot and killed the serpent. As the snake died, its body rolled down the hill into Canadaigua Lake disgorging human skulls. To this day, no trees have grown where the serpent rolled down the hill. It is
this page online
The boy and the girl were the first People of the Great Hill, the founders of the Seneca Nation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Native Americans.
Location. 42° 57.778′ N, 77° 26.028′ W. Marker is in Victor, New York, in Ontario County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Boughton Hill Road (County Route 41) and Murray Lane. Marker is in Ganondagan New York State Historic Site on Fort Hill. From the parking area at the intersection, hike the service road west which ascends the right side of the hill. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Victor NY 14564, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Gannongarae (here, next to this marker); Gannagaro (a few steps from this marker); Nundawahonoga (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gannondata (about 400 feet away); Gahayanduk Fort Hill (about 400 feet away); Gahayanduk (about 500 feet away); The War on Corn (about 500 feet away); Totiakton (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Victor.
Also see . . . Ganondagan State Historic Site. New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation website entry (Submitted on July 15, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, October 26, 2018
2. Onondowahgah Marker
Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, October 26, 2018
3. Onondowahgah Marker
These two are the closer markers. The other four are the Gannongarae series.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 15, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 29, 2018, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 253 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 29, 2018, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.
