sacagawea cemetery

This is one of the simplest, loneliest and most beautiful historic sites we have ever visited. We arrived late on a cloudy, windy day after researching the location online. Many of the directions we found were inaccurate, so we just turned at the sign to Fort Washakie, very near the highway marker for Sacagawea. (Note: the main highway marker is not the gravesite.) Following the road just skirting south of Fort Washakie, we kept an eye out for a cemetery and found it just southwest of town. The colorful Native American cemetery took our breath away in its beauty - we've never seen anything like this. Pulling into the parking area, we noted a small path and a marker that seemed to be more prominent than the others. After a brief walk we were fighting back tears as we stood at the grave site of this heroic woman of early American history. Flanking her grave are the grave markers of two of her sons, including Pompey from the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and behind her grave is a marker for a daughter. We stood there in silence as the wind blew, moving our eyes to the horizon where the Wind River mountains soar, occasionally wiping away a tear. Words really fail to express how powerful this experience is, especially if you know her story and the history of Lewis and Clark. There is a hauntingly beautiful statue of Sacagawea at the western edge of the cemetery where many people have respectfully left small trinkets. All in all, we spent about 30 minutes here, but really hesitated to leave - it's just one of the places where time seems to stand still and you realize this is a very, very special place. Highly recommended.

So thankful that we just happened to stop in Fort Washakie. Sacajawea was so special to our country. The Cemetery is a great tribute to her. So beautiful and colorful with all the flowers and some really wonderful painted crosses. Some of her grandsons and other family are also there. A GREAT statue of her...

We stopped here as the Sacagawea cemetery is on the 'tourist' route map and of course her story is that of legend. In such a peaceful setting, this is a beautiful and colourful yet sad place. Apart from the tribute to Sacagawea herself, you can't help but stop and read the grave markers of so many young native American people. I found it humbling and it brought home to me that perhaps not everything in life is great and that peoples lives today are very much affected by the legacy of the past. Thought provoking experience.

great road trip stop. There is a large statue of Sacagewea with a few old cabins. There is a large cemetery. It is said to be haunted, but it dint seem to be. There was also a gift shop that sells great chokeberry products.

I'm a Lewis & Clark buff and I find cemeteries interesting, so this was right up my alley. There is a statue of Sacagewea in the cemetery and, if you are facing the statue, there is a well-walked trail behind & to your left, next to an old cabin. That trail takes you to the largest monument in the small-ish cemetery. That is Sacagewea's. There is apparently some controversy as to whether or not that grave is actually hers, as the woman buried here died in the late 1800's and lore has it that Sacagewea died as a young woman at Fort Lisa. We were told by a local Arapaho woman who was very well educated in Native American history, that the local Shosone tribe (of which Sacagewea was a member) believes that this woman was, in fact, the woman who travelled and assisted Lewis & Clark. They believe, after extensive interviews sanctioned by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the wife of Toussaint Charbonneau who died at Fort Lisa was Charbonneau's OTHER Native wife. The grave of her, her adopted son Bazil & a monument recognizing her son with Charbonneau, Jean Baptiste, are all decorated with random plastic flowers and a few stuffed animals but little else, aside from the statue and a painted white sign at the entrance help to commemorate this amazing woman. The cemetery is poorly maintained, which is very sad, and even the road sign identifying "Cemetary Ave" is completely worn away. As such, we missed our turn initially. Other signs on this part of the reservation are bent and broken, and you won't see much advertising this memorial which, in my opinion, is a bit of a disservice. The road (or about 8 miles of it) to Fort Washakie from Riverton is "under construction" (although we saw no workers on the weekday we travelled it) so expect gravel, bumpy road both ways with the occasional strewn beer bottle. If you're uninterested in Sacagewea, you will likely not want to make this detour. If you are though, it's well worth it.

Respecter ce lieu... car c'est rare qu'un cimetière Indien soit en visite "autorisée".Depuis le parking, prendre au bout à droite, le chemin montant vers la statue de Sacajawea. Et non pas (comme moi ! mais avec précautions) traverser le cimetière.Ce cimetière ne comporte pas d'allées et il faut se frayer prudemment un chemin pour le pas marcher sur les tombes. Beaucoup sont fleuries et ornées de souvenirs (objets, jouets), c'est émouvant.à voir !