Old Chief Joseph Gravesite

Old Chief Joseph Gravesite

National Park Service

Quick Facts

Location:

45°20'11.47"N 117°13'19.26"W

Significance:

Resting place for Nez Perce leader Old Chief Joseph

In 1926, 2,500 people lined up to see the remains of tıwi·teq̉ıs or Old Chief Joseph interred at a new gravesite at the base of Lake Wallowa, overlooking the lands he once called home. Located in northeastern Oregon in the nimí·pu· or Nez Perce homeland, tıwi·teq̉ıs is the father of Chief Joseph, a leader during the conflict of 1877.

Ttıwi·teq̉ıs was born between 1785 and 1790 and grew to be a leader of the groups of nimí·pu· living in the Wallowa's. He signed the Treaty of 1855 but refused to put his mark to the Treaty of 1863. He died in 1871 but not before compelling his son to hold fast and defend his home land and people, "My son, never forget my dying words, This country holds your father's body. Never sell the bones of your father and mother." Unfortunately, under the threat of being evicted by the U.S. Army, Young Joseph left the Wallowas in the spring of 1877 for the Nez Perce Reservation in Idaho. When tıwi·teq̉ıs died, he was buried further down the valley but his grave was desecrated.

After the nimí·pu· left the valley in 1877, the land was settled and several prominent community leaders lobbied for tıwi·teq̉ıs to be reburied. In 1926 that happened. While the Nez Perce have been gone for over a century, the grave is a tangible link to a place that is still special to the Nez Perce.

Directions to Old Chief Joseph Gravesite

From the Spalding Visitor Center, turn right onto U.S. Highway 95 North. After 9 miles, keep left to continue on US-12 West. Turn right onto 18 Street. Continue onto Dike Bypass for 1.8 miles. Turn right onto Snake River Ave. At the traffic circle, take the 1^st exit and stay on Snake River Ave. Take the ramp to Clarkston, WA. Merge onto Southway Bridge to enter Washington. Slight right onto the ramp to 5^th Street. At the traffic circle, take the 3^rd exit onto 5^th Street. Continue onto WA-129 S/Riverside Drive for 4.4 miles. Turn right onto WA-129 S/Washington Street. Continue to follow WA-129 S for 36.3 miles to enter Oregon. Continue onto OR-3 South for 43 miles. In Enterprise, turn left onto West North Street. Turn right at the first cross street onto OR-82 E/N River Street. Continue to follow OR-82 E for 6.3 miles. Continue straight down Main Street for 1.5 miles. The site will be on the right side before the lake.

Things to Do at Old Chief Joseph Gravesite

Explore the Site

This 5.1 acre cemetery is a national historic landmark and a sacred and sensitive site for the Nez Perce people. Old Chief Joseph’s grave is marked by a tall stone marker bearing the legend, "To the Memory of Old Chief Joseph, Died 1870."

Respecting Cemeteries:

This 5.1 acre cemetery is a national historic landmark and a sacred and sensitive site for the Nez Perce people. It is held in trust by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the Umatilla and Nez Perce Tribes, but managed by the Nez Perce National Historical park under the direction of the tribes. Please help us protect and respect Old Chief Joseph's gravesite.

• Walk or stand on pathways or between graves, not directly atop of them.

• Prepare and consume food and drinks outside of cemetery boundaries.

• Resist taking rubbings or markings from headstones.

• Avoid handling the headstones.

• Leave all items on the graves in place and undisturbed.

• Dogs are not allowed within the cemetery boundaries.

• Recreate outside of cemetery boundaries.

• Adults, please accompany children in your care into the cemetery.

• Pay homage to those buried here between dawn and dusk. The park is closed after dark.

• Report any damage or suspected violation to the National Park Service at [phone].