Abbie Gardner Sharp 1856 Cabin Arnolds Park, Iowa
Abbie Gardner Sharp's 1856 cabin Arnolds Park, Iowa
Sorry for the poor quality. All I had on me to record was my phone.
The Gardner family came to Lake Okoboji in July 1856 from New York. Because it was too late in the season to plant and harvest crops, the family brought enough food to last the winter months. They managed to build one cabin by winter, but weather prevented them from finishing a second. At the time of the massacre, Rowland Gardner, his wife, a son, two daughters, a son-in-law, and two grandchildren occupied the Gardner Cabin. A third daughter was in Springfield, Minnesota at the time of the massacre.
By late winter in 1856, both the settlers and Inkpaduta's people were running out of supplies. Tensions ran high as Inkpaduta's people tried unsuccessfully to get food from the settlers. Finally, on March 8, anger turned into violence. Over several days, Inkpaduta's band killed 33 settlers and abducted four women, including Abbie Gardner. No one recorded the Dakota's losses. After the Okoboji attack, Inkpaduta's band travelled north, unsuccessfully attacked Springfield, Minnesota settlers, and then fled west to the Dakotas where they killed two of the four captives. Later that spring, Inkpaduta released Abbie and another Okoboji captive after ransom was paid by Indian Agents from Minnesota.
The Gardner Cabin has undergone many changes since it was built in 1856. Unlike the other cabins, the Gardner Cabin was still intact after the massacre. It was purchased by Philander Prescott, who later sold it to Samuel Pillsbury. Until 1891, when Abbie Gardner-Sharp purchased it, the cabin had been enlarged with shed additions and a second story. To enhance the cabin's tourist potential, Abbie added a framework and lattice to hide the cabin from view by non-paying visitors. The Iowa Conservation Commission later removed the lattice. After the cabin was transferred to the State Historical Society in 1974, architects and archaeologists conducted research and decided to return the cabin to resemble its 1856 appearance. The State Historical Society placed a portion of the contents of Abbie Gardner-Sharp's tourist museum in the visitors center and transferred the rest of the items to the Dickinson County Historical Society in Spirit Lake. The cabin is now furnished with pioneer artifacts gathered by Abbie Gardner-Sharp.
Watchable Wildlife Site - Abbie Gardner Cabin
Visit the site of one of the few violent conflicts between European-American settlers and American Indians in Iowa. Known first as one of the sites of the 1857 Spirit Lake Massacre and later as one of Iowa's first tourist attractions, the Gardner Cabin survives as a reminder of one of Iowa's tragic frontier events. Here you can learn the dramatic stories of Abbie Gardner and the Dakota leader, Inkpaduta. The cabin has been restored to resemble its approximate 1856 appearance. You can also view a monument to those people who were killed and a visitors center full of artifacts.
Landmarks in Iowa History: Spirit Lake Massacre
Herb Hake and Mr Hart discuss the Spirit Lake conflict from the settler perspective. Shows some Sioux Native American artifacts and footage of the Gardner cabin and the state monument dedicated to the people killed in the Spirit Lake conflict.
Technical Director- Vern Kaspar; Director- Bob Morrison
Original Date: 11/16/1953
Original Format: Kinescope 16mm print
Original Digital Format: 2k
Blog Post:
Fernalnd Part 3
The Hulon moves in and the fence goes up
Cabin Massacre: Part 1
Two friends go to a cabin where they find their friend dead. They realize that they are stuck there overnight... with the murderer! Check out part 2 to see what happens! Rate, comment, and subscribe!
Midnight Massacre In Iowa
Local History- Arnolds Park
Local History- Arnolds Park
Smash mouth in arnolds park ia
This video was uploaded from an Android phone.
Arnolds Park Iowa Amusement Park from the water. It is a must do when in Okoboji, Spirit Lake, Iowa
Arnolds Park Amusement Park at Arnolds Park Iowa. Excursion boat gives rides all summer. The park is owned by the city and features electric bumper cars, fun house and roller coaster plus more. Many of us have fond memories of Arnolds Park. The Queen, and QueenII that have given in season lake excursion rides for many years.
Think Rentals Iowa Cabin.mpg
Iowa will give you one of the best vacations with your family. Vacation rentals in Des Moines will be the center for many historic routes and attractions that are fun and exciting.
Spirit Lake Massacre
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What was the Lake Shetek Massacre?
Learn more at colinmustful.com. Photos of Easlick family and captives from Minnesota Historical Society Collections. Map sourced from Pond Dakota Heritage Society. Information sourced from Isaac V.D. Heard, History of the Sioux War and Massacres of 1862 and 1863, (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1865). Music sourced from Apple Loops.
Sunset on West Lake Okoboji
Sunset on West Lake Okoboji from Deck at Fillenwarth Beach Resort June 2008
Will you save this historic log cabin in Jefferson county?
The 1838 Bonnifield cabin is the oldest house in Jefferson county, Iowa.
This video shows photos of another log cabin on Velvetleaf in Lockridge that isn't quite as old but is probably from the same generation. The Fairfield Ledger recently reported that this cabin will be demolished. New Update September 20 -- this historic building is now for sale -- building only. Must be moved. Call 641-919-7423. N. Rena Goff, IA-Licensed Real Estate Agent, Village Realty.
Here is a 1907 announcement for volunteers to reconstruct the 1838 Bonnifield cabin at its present site at Old Settlers' Park: Fairfield Tribune:
At the Old Settlers' Park on Friday, Oct. 25, the Jefferson County Old Settlers Park Association are going to have a log-rolling and cabin raising, and place the old Bonnifield cabin in a final resting place. Bring in your froes and help rive shingles. Everybody is invited. Come and bring your dinners and enjoy a hard day's work and an appetite.
Mother Earth News describes how the shingles would have rived with froes meaning cut on site:
1970s family vacation at Okoboji
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Very Rare Sword Artifact! (Spirit Lake Massacre)
To my understanding, The S.L.M was a attack of a band of santee Sioux march 1857, on the Iowa fronteir. Chief Inkpaduta led 14 Sioux againsed settlements on Okoboji, and spirit Lake. 35 to 40 settlers
Ellen Opsal Oral History Interview, 2012 (Part 2 of 2)
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Gull Point State Park Entry and Beach on West Okoboji Iowa
Beautiful West Okoboji swimming beach at Gull Point State Park is ran by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. It has camping, fishing, picnic areas, shelter house swim