Kansas Historical Marker, Medicine Lodge Peace Treaties
Located at Peace Treaty Grounds Main Entrance
Photo by Nathan Lee, 15 December 2006.
Kansas Historical Marker
Medicine Lodge Peace TreatiesIn October, 1867, Kiowa, Comanche, Arapahoe, Apache and Cheyenne Indians signed peace treaties with the Federal government. 15,000 Indians camped near by during the council, among them the famous chiefs Satanta, Little Raven and Black Kettle. 500 soldiers acted as escort for the U.S. commissioners. Interest in this colorful spectacle was so widespread that Eastern papers sent correspondents, among them Henry M. Stanley, who later was to find Livingstone in Africa. While the treaties did not bring immediate peace they made possible the coming of the railroads and eventual settlement. The site of the council was at the confluence of the Medicine river and Elm creek, a little southwest of Medicine Lodge. Every five years a treaty pageant is re-enacted in this amphitheater. In Medicine Lodge there is a commemorative monument on the high school grounds.
Erected by Kansas Historical Society and State Highway Commission
Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty Amphitheater
Looking to the southwest with announcer's stand at top right. Note bales of hay for seating from previous pageant.
Photo by Nathan Lee, 15 December 2006.
Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty Amphitheater near Medicine Lodge, Barber County, Kansas.
View looking straight south from top of bleachers.
Photo by Nathan Lee, 15 December 2006.
Old Entrance Posts at the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty Pageant Grounds.
Photo by Nathan Lee, 15 December 2006.
Also see:
Index to articles on this site about the Medicine Lodge Peace Council and Peace Treaties
Photographs from Medicine Lodge, Barber County, Kansas, 2006, includes photos of the Peace Treaty Statue at Medicine Lodge High School.
Thanks to Nathan Lee for taking and contributing the above photographs to this web site!