The Sacred Place

Rising from the Smoky Hill River Valley in Western Kansas are a grouping of limestone rock formations called The Monument Rocks.  The Monument Rocks were formed when the inland seas drained away millions of years ago.
In 1867, T.R. Davis, an artist with Harpers Weekly wrote, "The Monument Rocks are considered the most remarkable sight on the plains.  At a distant it is difficult to realize that they are not the handiwork of man, so perfectly do they resemble piles of masonary."

One of the earliest reports of "The Monuments" occurred on the Fremont surveying expedition of 1842.  Fremont reported that the rocks were piled high with buffalo bones by the Indians.  Known by the Indians as "The Sacred Place", near where their ancient ritual of the Sundance was held, they would mark the Monuments as they traveled between their northern and southern hunting grounds.

In September of 1865, a small army outpost and stage station known as Monument Station was located nearby.  On October 1, 1865, a stagecoach was attacked by Indians near the station.  The coach was plundered and burned along with the station house.  The mules of the garrison were driven off.

This painting depicts the raiding party celebrating, as they move north from the stage station past the place they knew as "The Sacred Place".
Jerry Thomas unveiled this painting at the annual meeting of the Scott County Historical Society at El Quartelejo Museum on February 12, 2006.  At that time he gave exclusive print rights of "The Sacred Place" to the historical society.
