Shadehill in Perkins County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Hugh Glass - Adventurer
Hugh Glass, a member of the Ashley Fur Party under Major Henry, going up the Grand River in August 1823, a habitual "loner", while hunting, was attacked by a grizzly bear near the Forks of Grand River. Horribly mauled he could not be moved, a purse was made up, two men, probably Fitzgerald and Bridger were left with him and they probably, believing him dead, took his gun and accoutrements and left him. He, however, was not dead and dragged himself to the stream, sustained himself on seasonal fruit and meat, obtained when he drove off some gorged wolves from a buffalo calf they had downed and by some means and by an uncertain route appeared at Ft. Kiowa, below the Big Bend, 190 miles as the crow flies from the Forks of Grand River. That much is verified history. He was killed by Aricara Indians on the ice of the Yellowstone River near mouth of the Big Horn in the winter of 1832-33. John G. Neihart in an epic poem, "The Song of Hugh Glass" has immortalized him. Alone, unarmed, terribly wounded it seems probable he proceeded at night on high ground, to avoid Indians, sought shelter and water in the day time and guided by his instinct succeeded in reaching the Big Bend and Ft. Kiowa. Whatever the details, it was a marvelous show of stamina and courage.
Erected 1964 by the Lemmon Chamber of Commerce, the State Historical Society and the Game, Fish and Parks Commission. (Marker Number 370.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Exploration. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota State Historical Society Markers series list. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1823.
Location. 45° 44.438′ N, 102° 13.931′ W. Marker is in Shadehill, South Dakota, in Perkins County. It is on Hugh Glass Road 4 miles west of State Highway 73. Marker is located in the Hugh Glass Recreation Area. Daily fee may be required. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lemmon SD 57638, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in West River. It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 15 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Seim, South Dakota (approx. 1.1 miles away); Hugh Glass (approx. 1.1 miles away); Shadehill Dam & Reservoir (approx. 1.1 miles away); Welcome to the Grand River National Grassland (approx. 3.8 miles away); Public Land Surveying (approx. 3.8 miles away); Great Plains Weather: Land of Extremes (approx. 3.9 miles away); From Bison to Cattle (approx. 4.1 miles away); Quartzite Border Markers / Yellowstone Trail (approx. 14.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shadehill.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Hugh Glass (was approx. 1.1 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Also see . . . Five couplets including "Song for Hugh Glass", Author John G. Neihardt. (Submitted on November 2, 2019, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 2, 2019, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 1,585 times since then and 96 times this year. Last updated on August 3, 2021, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 2, 2019, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.


