Somewhere along the way after moving to Sioux City in 2007, I had heard about this historic site from coworkers and friends. Understanding that Abbie Gardner was infamous enough to deserve a museum dedicated to
Somewhere along the way after moving to Sioux City in 2007, I had heard about this historic site from coworkers and friends. Understanding that Abbie Gardner was infamous enough to deserve a museum dedicated to her bravery and in her honor, I knew one day I would get a chance to visit it.
So, when my husband and I were planning our trip up to Okoboji, I knew we had to make time to visit this notable and significant location near the shore of West Okoboji Lake. In fact, just a half-mile stroll down the Arnolds Park boardwalk you arrive at the Abbi Gardner Cabin.
Unfortunately for us, the museum was closed due to COVID-19, but that didn’t stop us from wondering around the grounds, taking pictures and learning about the history of the Spirit Lake Massacre and the story of Abbie Gardner herself.
Spirit Lake Massacre
During the mid-1800s, there were growing tensions between natives who were being forced off their land and white settlers inhabiting the area. Native Americans who once had free-reign across the horizon, were eventually restricted to a 15-mile stretch of land designated as their “Reservation”. In addition, many natives found that the U.S. government did not follow through with previously agreed upon promises to provide food, shelter and education. Soon, natives would find themselves struggling to survive off the land that was once their hunting ground, being chased off farm land, and sometimes beaten for merely scavenging for food.
Relations between the Sioux and settlers worsened, and soon many treaties were either broken or not upheld by the state and federal governments, leaving the Sioux, and other tribes, to either die of starvation or form their own encampments
Infuriated and heartbroken upon watching their sacred land being squandered, a small group of 14 Sioux took out their anger on anyone and everyone they came across. During March of 1857, a Wahpekute band of Santee Sioux, led by Chief Inkpaduta, killed 40 settlers living along the Okoboji Lake. A total of eight family cabins were attacked, ransacked, and the men, women and children of these eight families were killed.
Abbie Gardner
Of these eight families, four women were captured and held for ransom. The youngest of these women was Abbie Gardner, at the young age of 14 years old. In fact, two of the four women were eventually killed, leaving the other two, Abbie and Mrs. Margaret Ann Mable, as the only survivors of the Spirit Lake Massacre.
Held captive for a few months after the massacre, Abbie was eventually released after her ransom was paid. Remarkably, even though her experience was traumatic, Abbie held no ill will against the Sioux tribe. And her encounters with the Sioux led her to write her memoir nearly 30 years later, the History of the Spirit Lake Massacre and Captivity of Miss Abbie Gardner. In addition, Abbie even went back to the cabin she grew up in, where her family was killed, purchased the structure and land, and began operating it as a museum. That, to me, shows how resilient and strong-willed she was. She even allowed the state of Iowa to erect a memorial monument in 1895 to honor the slain settlers at Arnolds Park.
Preserving History
Even after her death in 1921, the state maintained the property, educating visitors of local history, and in 1974 the State Historical Society of Iowa acquired the site, and under the direction of architects and archaeologists, the cabin and its surrounding settlement has been restored to its 1856 appearance.
This is an example of how important it is to get out and explore your backyard. Many history books overlook this event in Iowa history, and many Iowans don’t even know about Abbie Gardner and her bravery. During our visit, my husband and I learned a lot from reading the plaques, to doing our own research before and after our Okoboji trip.
Plan your visit
So, if you are ever in the Okoboji area, I highly recommend putting this on your must-see list. Like us, you will be humbled by the experiences of both the Sioux and the settlers, and even if the museum is closed, you can still walk up to the cabin, physically touch history, and even stand on the land where the massacre transpired.
Also, be sure to visit the Dickinson County website for more information regarding Abbie Gardner and the Spirit Lake Massacre (https://dickinsoncountyconservationboard.com/2018/12/05/abbie-gardner-sharps-story-the-spirit-lake-massacre/), as well as the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs (https://iowaculture.gov/history/sites/abbie-gardner-sharp-cabin).
Finally, be sure to watch a short video on the Watchable Wildlife of Northwest Iowa (http://www.watchablewildlifenwia.org/sites-AGCabin.htm).
Currently, the cabin is closed, but normal business hours of operation are:
Monday: Closed
Tues – Sun: 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
712-332-7248
74 Monument Drive
Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331
