Washita Battlefield National Historic Site

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Washita Battlefield National Historic Site
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
Washita Battlefield National Historic Site
Location Roger Mills County, Oklahoma, USA
Nearest city OK
Coordinates 36°37′3″N 99°42′1″W / 36.6175, -99.70028
Area 315 acres (1.27 km²)
Established 1965
Visitors 14,215 (in 2004)
Governing body National Park Service
Washita Battlefield
(U.S. National Historic Landmark)
Designated as NHL: January 12, 1965[1]
Added to NRHP: October 15, 1966[2]
NRHP Reference#: 66000633
Washita Battlefield
Washita Battlefield

Washita Battlefield National Historic Site protects and interprets the site of the Southern Cheyenne village of Peace Chief Black Kettle. The site, a National Historic Landmark, is located about 150 miles west of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma near Cheyenne, Oklahoma.

Just before dawn on November 27, 1868, the village was attacked by the 7th U.S. Cavalry under Lt. Col. George Custer.

The strike was hailed at the time by the military and many civilians as a significant victory aimed at reducing Indian raids on frontier settlements as it forced the Cheyenne back to the reservation set aside for them.

However, Washita remains controversial because many Indians and whites labeled Custer's attack a massacre. Black Kettle is still honored as a prominent leader who never ceased striving for peace even though it cost him his life.

The site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965,[1][3] and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

Washita Battlefield
Washita Battlefield

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Washita Battlefield. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2008-01-20.
  2. ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
  3. ^ National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Washita Battlefield PDF (568 KiB), National Park Service  and Accompanying 4 photos from 1975 and undated.PDF (254 KiB)

[edit] External links