Disappointment at Wounded Knee

Here's the map link.

Left Custer and headed towards Wounded Knee, SD where the last group of Indians surrendered to the US Cavalry and then were promptly massacred through a series of missteps by the troops there.

I must say that I am extremely disheaterned by how the Wounded Knee event is overlooked. The actual area where it happened is marked by only one board that explains what happened in text. No pictures, no maps. As this was the site of an uprising in 1973, you would have thought that at least that would also be mentioned, but there is nothing. The small white church that was used by the activists is completely gone. It is almost as though both events never happened or they are overlooked as unimportant.

What is important is the condition of the cemetary. It was filmed in the movie "Thunderheart" and it appears to have deteriorated even more since the movie was made some 10 years ago or so. And this cemetary holds the graves of military vets that have the same white headstones that are used to mark the graves at Arlington National Cemetary in Virginia.

Overall, I'd have to say that it was a depressing way for me to remember South Dakota as Wounded Knee, as important to history as it is, is a place forgotten to most, save for the Indians. It is also in an area that is tedious to get to (it is very much off the beaten track) and the economic depression in the area is palpable. Most of the residents in the area live in trailers and not much more.

Got back to I-90 through the Badlands and headed east towards Souix Falls. Hope to get to Dyersville to see the "Field of Dreams" tomorrow and then head towards Indianapolis.