ARNOLDS PARK, Iowa (KTIV) - There are many great, fun places to visit in the Iowa Great Lakes. But, this area is also full of interesting bits of history... some are harder to stomach than others.
In 1857, Arnold Park was witness to one of the worst episodes in American history... the Spirit Lake Massacre. 42 people died. But, why?
Nestled among the old lakefront cottages on Pillsbury Point is one that's clearly older than the rest. Mike Koppert, Historian says, "The logs are original." And, date back to the 19th century... back to the senseless slaughter of 42 people... back to the Spirit Lake Massacre.
It was February of 1857 when Inkpaduta, the chief of the Santee Sioux tribe, led his family, and band of warriors to the Iowa Great Lakes. The winter had been hard, and trying to keep his family warm, Inkpaduta asked settlers near Spirit Lake, for some straw. Mike Koppert, Historian says, "Wanted some straw from the pioneer men that were here. They wouldn't give him any." Desperate, Inkpaduta's men tried to steal the straw... and the settlers shot them. Mike Koppert, Historian says, "The Spirit Lake massacre, in essence, this was all started by U.S. citizens... and not Indians as so many people think."
But, Inkpaduta had guns, too. Mike Koppert, Historian says, "He killed all those men in the gunfight. Then he slaughtered the women and children down there."
The warriors moved to Arnolds Park... here, to the Gardner cabin. A place they knew well. Mike Koppert, Historian says, "That morning, before the shooting of the straw, Inkpaduta brought all of his elders and youngsters up here and the Gardners fed them all."
This visit would be different.
Mike Koppert, Historian says, "Shot Abbie's father, and bludgeoned his wife and Abbie's oldest sister Mary, to death. Then killed the 3 little children in here."
The warriors then took Abbie Gardner by the arm. Mike Koppert, Historian says, "She found herself begging them to kill her, too. But, Koppert says Abbie was too valuable to be killed. Mike Koppert, Historian says, "They took Abbie, and the other 3 captives, for strategic reasons to protect themselves from angry posses, or the militia."
She was a hostage. And, spent the next 3 months in captivity... until three Wahpeton indians managed to free her.
Abbie Gardner returned to her family's cabin about 30-years after the massacre. She bought it, and them told the story of her family's slaughter every day for the next 30-years. Mike Koppert, Historian says, "Abbie returned to make money and memorialize it." It became a tourist attraction. Mike Koppert, Historian says, "It had to be pretty horrible to stand behind the counter, over here, for 30-years looking down at the spot where lost her beloved mother, and father. You could imagine what she went through." Reliving her family's murders, over and over again.
Abbie died in 1921, at the age of 77.
Mike Koppert, Historian says, "She's buried across the street, with her two sons. And, her family of six that died in the cabin that day, March 8, 1857." They lay at the foot of a 55-foot granite monument to the settlers killed in the massacre. A monument Abbie, herself, had to lobby for. She couldn't forget... and she made sure no one ever would.
The Gardner Cabin, and massacre monument, are open from Noon to 4pm, every day of the week between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.
