Sign in with Facebook"Medicine Wheel" Top 5 Page for this destination Cody Travelogue by KimberlyAnn
Cody Travel Guide: 116 reviews and 296 photos
The Medicine Wheel, which is located in the Big Horn Mountains along Highway Alt 14, is a National Historic Site and therefore protected by Federal Law. It has been studied by archeologists and is believed to be a holy place by American Indians. To get to the Medicine Wheel you will walk along a road for one and a half miles, where you will enjoy the beautiful mountain country that surrounds the site
Many American Indian tribes believe that the circle is a reflection of life and that creating a circle is a sacred action.
This circle, created of stones is revered by the Indian People, and many make pilgrimages to it for rituals, a vision quest, and prayers. During these pilgrimages they will often leave prayer objects tied to the fence, which surrounds the wheel.
This wheel is about 245 feet in circumference with a central cairn of rocks, 28 spokes radiating out from the center, and six smaller rock cairns around the rim of the wheel. In this photo you see one of the stone cairns around the rim with Indian offerings inside of it.
Although archeologists have been unable to determine who built the circle, or why, there are many Indian legends and traditions which different Indian tribes tell to explain the wheel.
Because of the well traveled trail to the Medicine Wheel, it is known that many people have visited the Wheel over the last few hundred years. Some say that the spoke like layout of the wheel resembles the Sun Dancer Lodge or Medicine Lodge, which is part of the Native American Indian culture and religion. Some scientists think that the Medicine Wheel is an early astronomical observatory.
The present day Cheyenne leaders say that tribes go to the mountain to seek spiritual harmony with the powerful spirits that they believe reside there. Prayers for wisdom and strength are always part of this ritual, and guidance may be asked for. On the right side of this photo you see a dream catcher. These are traditional in many different Indian tribal cultures. Dream catchers were hung inside the lodge to catch the bad dreams of the night, but allow the good dreams to flow through. In the morning it is believed that the bad dreams will evaporate with the rising sun.
The Crow people are another tribe of Indians that often visit this wheel. They have many stories that tell about the beginning and importance of the wheel. It is believed that a great Crow Chief, Red Plume found a great spiritual medicine at the Medicine Wheel. When he died he told his people that his spirit would live at the Wheel and they could communicate with him there. Please help to protect this site. Do not disturb or remove any of the sacred prayer items, and respect the privacy of the American Indian people if they happen to be there when you visit.
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Comments (98)
What? If you don't get hypothermia, then what is the point of getting in the water?: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/p/m/483d15/
Your home town is surrounded by some pretty and natural,rugged country and loaded with lots of interesting and historical things to see and do.I enjoyed getting to know Cody a little! As a child I couldn't EVER get my hands on enough Louis L'Amour books.
Detailed & informative tips on your home town! The 5 museums of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center all sound really impressive. Thanks for including the 1903-1908 stage coach stop and especially the insightful tip on the WWII Relocation Camp.
So many great tips! I found some new places to visit and really enjoyed going back to some. You're a heckuva tip-writer!
The great wild west and its sons of history. Great comments.
Hi! Saw your profile and just thought I would say hullo, and that we visited your town on a Trafalgar National Parks tour. Enjoyed Cody and the National Parks.
I don't believe that there are or ever were Jackalopes, but I do think its a fun thing. I remember some tv show I used to watch as a kid that had a Jackalope on it...do you know where I could get a postcard of that? thanks :)
Kimberly, just wanted to thank you for your page on Cody, My husband is from Cody, and his family still lives there, it is one of the most awesome places I have ever been. Yellowstone is fantastic! I hope to retire there one day.
Wow, great page--I would love to visit your hometown!! LOVE IT!! That Old Trail Town Museum is so cool I think I would faint! ....Yes, I'm a bit of a Wild West fan.
Nice job on your hometown. Didn't know teachers in WY could retire early and still eat! Must have taught in Alaska for a while? Birthday greetings from Kodiak.
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