Dillon in Beaverhead County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Medicine Tree

This is a Sheepeater Shoshoni Medicine Tree

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 11, 2021

1. Medicine Tree Marker

Inscription. It was acquire many years ago in the mountains southwest of Dillon, MT. The tree could be as much as 500 years old. The Sheepeaters placed a mountain sheep skull in the crotch of a tree, and over a hundred years or more the tree grew around it. Later another skull would be placed above the first one and eventually the tree grew around it also. There are four skulls in this tree.
This unique treasure is provided through the generosity of Ruth Berthelson of Dell, MT.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Native Americans.

Location. 45° 13.014′ N, 112° 38.346′ W. Marker is in Dillon, Montana, in Beaverhead County. Marker can be reached from South Montana Street near East Glendale Street, on the right when traveling east. The Medicine Tree is located behind the railroad depot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 120 South Montana Street, Dillon MT 59725, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lewis and Clark Pathfinder Tribute (within shouting distance of this marker); Hotel Andrus (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dillon Implement Company (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dillon's Founding (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dillon City Hall Historic District

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(approx. 0.2 miles away); City of Dillon City Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Martin Barrett House (approx. 0.4 miles away); Beaverhead County World War II Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dillon.

Also see . . . The Mountain Shoshone -- WyoHistory.org. While sources generally agree that the subculture of mountain-dwelling Shoshone came to be called Sheepeaters, scholars prefer Mountain Shoshone as the more accurate term. By the mid-1800s, they were regarded as largely separate from the horse-owning, buffalo-hunting bands that roamed much of what are now southwestern and central Wyoming and came to be known as the Eastern Shoshone. (Submitted on August 30, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Medicine Tree and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 11, 2021

2. Medicine Tree and Marker

Medicine Tree image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 11, 2021

3. Medicine Tree

Note the skulls.

Location of the fourth skull, now sitting on the top. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 11, 2021

4. Location of the fourth skull, now sitting on the top.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 30, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 454 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 30, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.