Designated NHL May 5, 1985 Year built 1877 Management National Park Service | NRHP Reference # 89001082 Area 2 ha Added to NRHP 15 October 1966 | |
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Address Buffalo Eddy, Nez Perce National Historic Park, Joseph, OR 97846, USA Similar Iwetemlaykin State Heritage, Wallowa Lake, Nez Perce National Historical, Wallowa Lake State Park, Mount Howard | ||
The Old Chief Joseph Gravesite, also known as Nez Perce Traditional Site, Wallowa Lake, Chief Joseph Cemetery and Joseph National Indian Cemetery is a Native American cemetery near Joseph, Oregon. The area was also a traditional campsite of the Nez Perce and may be archaeologically significant.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1985, listed as Wallowa Lake Site. It is a component of the Nez Perce National Historical Park.
It is the burial place of Old Chief Joseph, the father of Chief Joseph. When Old Joseph died in 1871, he had a traditional burial at the forks of the Lostine and Wallowa rivers. In 1886 his grave was desecrated by local property owners and his skull was removed as a souvenir. In 1926, the remains of the elder Chief Joseph were reburied. His grave is marked by a tall stone marker bearing the legend, "To The Memory of Old Chief Joseph, Died 1870." The cemetery is a sacred place for the Nez Perce people.