Beezley Trailhead in Ephrata in Grant County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

Camp Tuc-Ta-Hyaspum

Ephrata, Washington

Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, October 24, 2026

1. Camp Tuc-Ta-Hyaspum Marker

Inscription.
Camp Tuc-Ta-Hyaspum was established as a tsuka-do-tsa (camas root) digging camp in Ephrata by the Sinkiuse Tribe. Billy Curlew (Indian name: kul kuloo) was born here a few years after the Indian War of 1858 ended. In addition to the main camp at Tuc-Ta-Hyaspum, there were several smaller camps near Soap Lake.

Camas root matured earliest on the southern and eastern slopes of Beezley Hills and the first main camp of the many tribes who came to the area was near the area’s best water supply, which came from the small stream flowing down the canyon west of Ephrata and across the flat where the city is now built.

Even though the camas root grounds were considered Sinkiuse country, they allowed many neighboring tribes to come dig and carry on a big inter-tribal gathering. The tribes who gathered here were Sinkiuse, Yakima, Kittitas, Wenatchee, Okanogan, Methow, Palus, Wanapum and western Nez Perce. Each tribe camped in it’s own area, but they intermingled freely. The large inter-tribal camp would consist of hundreds of tepees, most on the flat, but many pitched along the sides of the creek.

Women spent their time digging

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and cooking roots while the men played stick games and traded horses. When most of the camas root had been gathered, the women would leave the main camp and establish satellite camps within a 10 mile radius wherever there were small springs where the roots could be steamed in pits.

This shows the site of the old Indian village- you can see that there aren’t too many vacant lots left. The old Indians are pointing out to me where the campsite was located when they were small boys. The two older Indians are in their 90s. The one in the checkered shirt was born at this village site in the 1860s.

Erected 2026 by Autism Society of Grant County.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Indigenous Peoples and Communities. A significant historical year for this entry is 1860.

Location. 47° 19.4′ N, 119° 33.543′ W. Marker is in Ephrata, Washington, in Grant County. It is in Beezley Trailhead. It is at the intersection of 1st Avenue NW and Cyprus Road on 1st Avenue NW. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 750 1st Avenue NW, Ephrata WA 98823, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, October 24, 2026

2. Camp Tuc-Ta-Hyaspum Marker

this marker is in the Columbia Basin. It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Springs and Streams in Canyon Made Ephrata an Oasis (within shouting distance of this marker); Gladys Fuller Washington (within shouting distance of this marker); The Liberty Bell in Ephrata (within shouting distance of this marker); South East Asian War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Early Days in Ephrata (approx. 0.3 miles away); Nat House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Nat Washington House (approx. 0.3 miles away); History of the Rocky Ford Area (approx. 5.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ephrata.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2026, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 25, 2026, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.