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 Lewis & Clark's Cane Was this family heirloom a gift from the famous explorers Lewis and Clark?
-
Related Investigation Mark Twain's Watch Was this watch a gift from noted author American author Mark Twain?
-
Also with Wes Cowan Charlie Parker's Saxophone Could this be jazz legend Charlie "Bird" Parker's saxophone?
-
Also in Season 6 GAR Photograph How did two African Americans come to be part of this photograph in Reconstructionist-era America?
-
Also with Wes Cowan The Disappearance of Glenn Miller In 1944, bandleader Glenn Miller boarded a plane for Paris and was never seen again. What happened?
-
Also with Wes Cowan Ernie Pyle's Typewriter Did America’s most beloved battlefront correspondent bang out his dispatches on this Corona 3?
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.