The Case:
A woman in Portland, Oregon has a curious spoon that once belonged to her grandmother. It's known in her family as "the spoon of atrocities.”
An eerie scene is etched into its sterling silver bowl: wagons, buildings and a crowd of spectators gathered before a gallows with figures hanging from them. A disturbing message is inscribed: "Hanging 38 Sioux In 1862 Mankato, Minn.”
What is this tragic scene, and why has it been etched into what looks like a collectible, commemorative spoon?
History Detectives explores the clash between white settlers and the Dakota Sioux in the mid nineteenth-century - and a struggle that led to the largest mass execution in American history.
Related Content
Related Links
Explore
-
Related Investigation Luxury Liner Picture Frame Is this picture frame a piece of the Titanic, Lusitania or neither?
-
Also with Wes Cowan Chandler Tintype How did this Civil War era tintype help re-ignite a fiery debate about African Americans bearing arms for the confederacy?
-
Also with Wes Cowan Slave Songbook Are these tattered pages the earliest record of music created by slaves?
-
Also in Expansion: 1801-1861 Bill Of Sale Who was this girl sold into slavery?
-
Related Investigation Cleveland Electric Car What happened to the electric street car network in Cleveland?
-
Also with Wes Cowan Civil War Deringers Are these pistols union or rebel?
Comments
This is a place for opinions, comments, questions and discussion; a place where viewers of History Detectives can express their points of view and connect with others who value history. We ask that posters be polite and respectful of all opinions. History Detectives reserves the right to delete comments that don’t conform to this conduct. We will not respond to every post, but will do our best to answer specific questions, or address an error.