The Prairie of the Mass

The panel credits him with sixteen treaties; the two best known came long after this Mass. In September 1851 he escorted delegates from the upper Missouri to the great council at the mouth of Horse Creek on the North Platte and sat under the center arbor. In June 1868, at 67, he went to Sitting Bull's camp on the Powder River, found as many as 4,000 people there, and spoke for an hour. Sitting Bull answered with the wrongs done his people and would not go to sign, but sent men back with him to the peace commission.

What the plaque says

The Prairie of the Mass Rev. Pierre DeSmet (1801-1873) was born in Belgium but came to America in 1821, joined by the Jesuit Society and began his work with the Indians. In his work, he established 16 treaties, crossed the ocean 19 times and traveled 180,000 miles on his errands of charity for the Indians who knew him as "The Sincerest Friend". On July 5, 1840, in the presence of 2,000 Indians, trappers and traders he offered the first Holy Mass in what is now Wyoming on an alter of native stone decorated with wild flowers. In Father DeSmet's own words: "It was a spectacle truly moving to the heart of a missionary that this immense family, composed of so many different tribes should prostrate themselves in equal humility before the "Divine Host." The monument of the site was erected in 1925 and a commemorative Mass is offered there annually in July. On July 4, 1940, the 100th anniversary of the first Mass, a Pontifical high mass was offered by the Most Rev. Bishop McGovern assisted by more than 30 priests and attended by about 2000 people.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Museum of the Mountain Man — 11 mi
  Six fur-trade rendezvous met near here on the Green; the only artist who ever saw one, Alfred Jacob Miller, came in 1837.

More markers nearby

• Green River Rendezvous — 1.9 mi
• Narcissa Prentiss Whitman and Eliza Hart Spalding — 1.9 mi
• Pinckney W. Sublette — 2.0 mi
• First Holy Mass in Wyoming — 2.1 mi