Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Washakie was also considered to be forward-thinking. When it became clear in
the early 1850s that their land was threatened by the influx of migrants and settlers,
he suggested to leaders, including Brigham Young, that land be set aside for the
Shoshone Indians. By the end of the decade, he was negotiating directly with the U.S.
government to acquire this land. In 1863 the Treaty of Fort Bridger designated land
for the tribe.
On the reservation, Washakie continued to lead. He maintained a fine balance
between the new reservation life and their traditions. Living in a log cabin rather than
a tipi, Washakie sent his children to the agency schools and even farmed a small piece
of land. But he also made sure his children joined him on buffalo hunts. He defended
Native American practices and led his fellow Shoshone warriors in the U.S. Army
battles against the Sioux and Cheyenne. Washakie never stopped advocating for the
needs of his people.
Toward the end of his life, Washakie was baptized twice, first as a Mormon
in 1880 and later as an Episcopalian in 1899, a few months before his death in
1900. Chief Washakie was buried with full military honors, and his funeral proces-
sion stretched for miles. A warrior and peacemaker, a diplomat and an advocate for
change, Chief Washakie is considered the last of the great Shoshone leaders. Wyom-
ing has paid tribute to the influential man by naming various public places in his hon-
or.
While disparate in philosophy, perhaps, the energy boomtown of Pinedale and the out-
door mecca of Lander both offer excellent access to the spectacular Wind River Mountains.
The region is absolutely worth exploring as a destination for outdoor and nature lovers, and
as a beautiful setting for travelers en route from one place to the next.
Visitors love Jackson (population 9,710, elevation 5,672 feet) because it encompasses the
best of the West in a charming town with a spectacular setting. Western indeed, Jackson
boasts a classic boardwalk around town, saloons with swinging doors and saddles for bar
stools, and architecture built on elk antlers. At the same time, Jackson is clearly mountain
chic, with a number of high-end boutiques and art galleries, a phenomenal performing arts
center, gourmet dining, and ritzy accommodations.
