Native Connections to the Commemorative Stones inside the Washington Monument

Cherokee Nation Stone

NPS Photo

Native Connections to the Commemorative Stones inside the Washington Monument

Cherokee Nation-
The Cherokee Nation donated this stone made of limestone to the Washington Monument. Placed on 220-foot level, the inscription reads, “Cherokee Nation 1850.”

State of Oklahoma-
This stone features the Great Seal of Oklahoma. The tips of the represents the 5 Oklahoma Nations. The top point is for the Chickasaw nation, a warrior holding a bow and shield. The upper left-hand point represents the Cherokee Nation, a star with a wreath of oak leaves. The upper right-hand point is the Choctaw Nation, with a tomahawk, a bow, and three crossed arrows. The lower left-hand point represents the Creek Nation, a sheaf of wheat and a plow. The lower right-hand point is for the Seminole Nation, with houses, a factory, and a lake with a hunter paddling a canoe.

State of Pennsylvania-
This stone is inscribed, “Pennsylvania Founded 1681 by Deeds of Peace”. The Image is based on a late 18^th-century painting by Benjamin West showing William Penn meeting the Lenni Lenape Chief Tamanend. In 1682, the two signed the Treaty of Shackamaxon (now Philadelphia). Penn sought religious freedom for all and paid Native Americans for the lands his colonists occupied.

Corporation of the City of New York-
Based, in part, on a design dating ca. 1654, this stone depicts both a Native American and an early Dutch Immigrant. It highlights the importance of early trade, especially beaver pelts.

From Braddock’s Field-
George Washington was one of Braddock’s aides to camp during the French and Indian War during the Battle of Monongahela, when Braddock was fatally wounded. Many historians argue that despite having a larger force, Braddock was at a disadvantage because he did not have Native American allies on the expedition.

State of Hawaii-
This stone includes the phrase, “Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono” which not only is the state motto, but was spoken by King Kamehameha III.

State of Minnesota-
This stone was created From the Native American quarries protected within Pipestone National Monument in southwestern Minnesota. It was made from pipestone, which plains nations often made peace pipes from.

State of New Mexico-
This stone contains a Native American symbol in the middle of it.

Improved Order of Red Men (IORM)-
Inspired by the Boston Tea Party, when a group of white men dressed up as Mohawk People and dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor protesting Great Britian’s tea tax, the IORM, was an all-white fraternity until 1974. It is worth noting this contradictory nature of erasure while appropriating names and customs that occurred to Native American people repeatedly through history. There are two IORM stones inside the Washington Monument from two different groups who also appropriated tribe names from local tribes.

• IORM, Anacostia Tribe #3- Named after the Nacotchtank people, or Anacostans, found along the Anacostia River, including here in Washington DC.
• IORM, Tuscarora Tribe #5- Named after the Tuscarora, a Native American Nation in Great Lakes region including New York & Canada.