Arnolds Park in Dickinson County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Massacre Monument

Gardner Cabin

By Juris Bets, May 2, 2015

1. Massacre Monument Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

(Side One:)
The pioneer settlers named below were massacred by Sioux Indians March 8 to 13 1857. This barbarous work was commenced near this spot and continued to Springfield now Jackson Minn.
39 names listed below

(Side two)
Memoranda Miss Abbie Gardner. Mrs. Margaret Ann Marble. Mrs. Lydia Noble. and Mrs. Elizabeth Thatcher were carried into captivity. Mrs. Marble war rescued May 21, and Miss Gardner June 23, 1857. Through the efforts of Gov. Sam Medary and Hon. Chas. E. Flandrau. of Minn.
Mrs. Noble and Mrs. Thatcher were murdered by the Indians.
Cap. J. C. Johnson of Webster City and Wm. E. Burkholder of Fort Dodge were frozen to death on the return march in Palo Alto CO. April 4, 1857. Next list is of people who were rescued.

Erected 1894.

Topics. This historical marker monument is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian.

Location. 43° 21.892′ N, 95° 8.405′

By Juris Bets, May 2, 2015

2. Massacre Monument Marker

W. Marker is in Arnolds Park, Iowa, in Dickinson County. Marker is on Monument Drive. It is on a city block with a museum (open only in summer for it is a resort town) It has the original Gardner cabin and the Gardner graveyard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 74 Monument Dr, Arnolds Park IA 51331, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. American Indians & Settlers (approx. ¼ mile away); A Glacial Gift (approx. ¼ mile away); The Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum (approx. ¼ mile away); Steamships of the Iowa Great Lakes (approx. ¼ mile away).

Regarding Massacre Monument. Nearby are markers for James Mattock Cabin (351 N. HWY 71, Arnolds Park.) where the whole family of 7 plus a visitor was burned alive inside
Granger Cabin (1200 HWY 71, Okaboji, IA) where 4 men were killed.
Joel Howe Cabin (1769 Spirit Lake, IA) where the family of 8 were murdered.
Thatcher-Noble cabin ( 1687 260th Ave, Spirit Lake,IA) where Mrs. Noble and Mrs.Thatcher were taken captive only to be killed later.
Marble Cabin (3200 HWY 276, Spirit Lake,IA) where the Indians killed Mr. Marble and his wife was taken hostage

Additional keywords. Indian Massacres

By Juris Bets

3. Massacre Monument Marker

By Juris Bets, May 2, 2015

4. Massacre Monument Marker

By Juris Bets, May 2, 2015

5. Massacre Monument Marker

By Juris Bets, May 2, 2015

6. Massacre Monument Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 7, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2015, by Juris Bets of Des Moines, Iowa. This page has been viewed 642 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 3, 2015, by Juris Bets of Des Moines, Iowa. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.