Wounded Knee National Historic Landmark

Wounded Knee is a memorial site on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation featuring a mass burial ground and a monument built in 1903 to honor those lost. The landscape includes a museum with exhibits and artifacts that document what happened through physical objects and historical records.

The conflict occurred on December 29, 1890, when U.S. Army soldiers killed around 300 Lakota men, women, and children during a confrontation over weapons. This event marked one of the final major armed clashes between the federal government and the Lakota people.

The site holds deep meaning for Lakota families as a place of remembrance where people gather to honor those lost. Visitors notice how the landscape is treated with reverence, with the focus on reflection rather than spectacle.

The museum features exhibits with artifacts and documents for visitors to explore at their own pace. The site sits on grassland with ravines and creek beds, so expect varied weather and uneven terrain when walking around.

The landscape still shows physical traces of military positions and escape routes preserved within the ravines and creek beds. These features help visitors understand the spatial reality of what happened.

Location: Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

Inception: 1890

GPS coordinates: 43.14242,-102.36494

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:20