Canton in Lincoln County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Hiawatha Asylum for Insane Indians
Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, September 1, 2018
1. Hiawatha Asylum for Insane Indians Marker
Receiving Congressional appropriations in 1899, the Hiawatha Asylum for Insane Indians was the second federal mental hospital and the first dedicated to American Indians. The first patient arrived in 1902, and through 1934, more than 370 patients—ages two to eighty, from fifty tribes nationwide—lived here. Patients did domestic and agricultural work onsite, were occasionally shown to paying visitors, and underwent treatment with methods later deemed outdated and dehumanizing. From 1929 to 1933, federal inspectors found intolerable conditions, inadequate staffing, several sane patients kept by force, and numerous other abuses. In 1933, John Collier, the newly-appointed Commissioner of Indian Affairs, ordered the asylum closed. G.J. Moen, with the Canton Chamber of Commerce, filed an injunction to keep the asylum open, but it was overturned in federal court. Many patients were discharged and those who still needed care were sent to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Washington D.C. The major buildings used by the asylum have since been demolished. The Hiawatha Asylum cemetery, where at least 121 patients were buried in unmarked graves, is located between
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Erected 2011. (Marker Number 708.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota State Historical Society Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1899.
Location. 43° 18.051′ N, 96° 33.061′ W. Marker is in Canton, South Dakota, in Lincoln County. Marker is on U.S. 18, one mile east of 482nd Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Canton SD 57013, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Augustana – The School on Wheels (here, next to this marker); The Canton Ski Hill (a few steps from this marker); Augustana- The School on Wheels (approx. 1.4 miles away); Resolution Designating Jack Fox Park (approx. 2.1 miles away); Canton Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); Canton (approx. 2.1 miles away); Community of Granite (approx. 11.6 miles away in Iowa); Looking Into the Past (approx. 12.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Canton.
Also see . . . South Dakota SP Canton Asylum for American Indians Cemetery - National Archives Catalog
Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, September 1, 2018
2. Hiawatha Asylum for Insane Indians Marker
June 25, 2023
3. Hiawatha Asylum Cemetery
June 25, 2023
4. Bronze plaque on burial stone
Selina Pilon 10-14-22 · Mrs. Twoteeth 1-10-23 · Kayzo (Kayso) 3-27-23 · Josephine DeCouteau 4-9-23 · Jessie Hallock 6-12-23 · Marie Pancho 10-17-23 · Ebe Sirowboy 8-11-28 · Kiger 7-2-29 · Mary Bah 8-25-30 · Cynia Houle 1-19-32 · Drag Toes 2-24-32 · Charlie Brown · Jacob Hayes 10-4-07 · Toby 3-6-06 · Trucha 11-17-05 · Hon-Sah-Sah-Kah 10-23-05 · Big Day 7-3-05 · Fred Taksup 2-6-05 · Peter Greenwood 9-22-05 · Robert Brings Plenty 5-20-03 · Nadesooda 2-8-08 · Toistoto 5-17-08 · James Chief Crow 10-24-08 · Yells At Night 11-21-08 · John Woodruff 5-15-09 · George Beautiste 5-30-09 · Baptiste Gingras 12-19-09 · Lowe War 12-24-09 · Silas Hawk 5-12-10 · Red Cloud 12-7-10 · Howling Wolf 3-30-11 · Antone 4-4-12 · Arch Wolf 7-2-12 · Frank Starr 4-28-13 · Joseph Taylor 9-20-13 · Amos Brown 5-1-21 · James Crow Lightening 3-6-21 · John Martin 4-4-22 · Red Crow 4-8-22 · James Blackeye 5-6-22
Abraham Meachern 11-10-22 · Aloysious Moore 5-12-23 · Tom Floodwood 9-29-23 · James Black Bull 2-9-26 · Benito Juan 3-24-26 · Seymour Wauketch 6-1-26 · Anselmo Lucas 12-19-26 · Chico Francisco 4-21-27 · Roy Wolfe 3-31-28 · Matt Smith 11-30-28 · Two Teth 7-18-30 · Pugay Beel 9-14-31 · Herbert Conley 3-17-33 · Jack Root 10-30-33 · Charlie Clafflin 3-2-14 · John Hall 5-27-14 · Amos Deerr 7-13-14 · Ne-Bow-O-Sah 12-18-14 · Thomas Chasing Bear 2-2-15 · Dan-Ach-Onginiwa 3-29-16 · Joseph Bignane 5-20-16 · Walkkas 1-21-17 · Steve Simons 10-8-17 · James Two Crows 11-26-17 · F. C. Eagle 9-5-18 · Andrew Dancer 11-21-18 · Apolorio Moranda 1-14-19 · Harry Miller 4-25-19 · Herbert Iron 5-20-19 · Fred Collins 6-4-19 · John Coal Of Fire 6-20-19 · Joseph D. Marshall 11-21-19 · Willie George 11-23-19 · James Hathorn 11-29-19 · Ira Girsteau 3-27-20 · Edward Hedges 5-21-20 · Omudis 6-5-20 · Guy Crow Neck 7-29-20 · John Big 8-25-20 · A. Kennedy 2-19-21
Credits. This page was last revised on July 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2018, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 390 times since then and 116 times this year. Last updated on October 10, 2021. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 3, 2018, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. 3, 4. submitted on July 10, 2023. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
