A series where we take a #lookback at the stories and history of our community, brought to you by Mick Pryor, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones.
Goes-in-Lodge
1850(?)-1931
Goes-in-Lodge was an Arapaho Medicine Man who witnessed many major events that changed the history of the West. As a boy of 14 he witnessed the Sand Creek Massacre in eastern Colorado. Over 650 soldiers of the Colorado Third Cavalry, an army made of volunteers under the command of Col. Chivington opened fire on a peaceful encampment of Cheyenne and Arapaho. During the battle his father told him to take his mother and run for the horses. Chivington’s men killed about 150 people, mostly women and children, since most of the hunters had left camp to go after buffalo to prepare for winter. Nock a Scha, as he was known as a child, managed to escape with other women and children. They traveled all night and the next day, surviving on frozen rose hips and slaughtering an old horse to eat. Eventually they managed to find Little Raven’s band of Southern Arapaho and were given refuge. Some of the survivors stayed with the Southern Arapaho and ended up in Oklahoma, but Nock a Scha and some others joined with the Northern Arapaho led by Black Coal and Sharp Nose. A year later in 1865 General Conner’s troops attacked this group of Northern Arapaho and left them without a home. For the next decade the Northern Arapaho wandered in the open territory of the Powder River country, sometimes living with the Sioux and Cheyenne as they tried to negotiate for a reservation of their own. During this time, Nock a Sha earned a new name for an act of bravery. In 1866 the Crow had invaded Arapaho hunting grounds. To prove his manhood Nock a Sha crept into a Crow lodge and killed two warriors. From that time on he was known among his people as Goes-in-Lodge.
Before he moved to the Wind River Reservation Goes-in-Lodge served as a scout for the US Army under General Crook. In 1874 Goes-in-Lodge fought in Bates Battle. This was a skirmish between US soldiers aided by the Shoshone against the Arapaho in the area where the Bighorn mountains meet the Owl Creek mountains in Fremont county.
In 1876 Goes-in-Lodge witnessed The Battle of Little BigHorn or the Battle of Greasy Grass as the Native Americans called the battle. It is unclear if he fought with the Native Americans against Custer or was part of Crook’s army that came along after the battle and buried the dead. Goes-in-Lodge never talked about the campaign. Years later Goes-in-Lodge returned to the site of conflict and identified the grave sites of fallen soldiers.
After Sand Creek the Arapaho were homeless without a reservation on their own until 1878. Although the two tribes were historic enemies, Washakie allowed them to winter on the Wind River Reservation. Placing the Arapaho on the Shoshone’s reservation was supposed to be a temporary solution, but it became the permanent home to both the Shoshone and the Arapaho.
Goes-in-Lodge became friends with Col. Tim McCoy, the silent movie star, and Ed Farlow. Ed Farlow was a Lander man and showman who was married to Lizzie Lamoreaux who was half Sioux. Lizzie’s maternal uncle was Gall, the Sioux War Chief who helped to defeat Custer at The Battle of Little Bighorn. With these connections Goes-in-Lodge became a silent movie star. He first performed in Covered Wagon, and then appeared in Iron Horse, War Paint, Wyoming, Thundering Herd and The Big Trail. During the filming of Thundering Herd, Goes-in-Lodge and other hunters were taken to Yellowstone to film a scene about Native Americans hunting buffalo. Goes-in-Lodge said it was the best trip he had ever had, and he didn’t want to leave because the buffalo hunt made him wild again. He wanted to go into the hills and camp again where he could see nothing but the sky and wild game and take up the life he was born to live.
Goes-in-Lodge was part of a promotional tour for the silent movie, Covered Wagon that toured New York City, London and Paris in 1923 and 1924. While in New York City the troupe erected teepees in Central Park and visited Macy’s department store. Crowds were fascinated with them and the police had to guard their encampment from curious spectators. Some of the Native Americans had personal items stolen from them by people who came to gawk at them. After Goes-in-Lodge rode the subway system in New York he displayed his sense of humor by observing that New Yorkers were like prairie dogs; they disappeared into holes and traveled far before coming up in another hole. While in London Goes-in-Lodge and the troupe of Native American performers erected their teepees close to the Crystal Palace and danced for Queen Victoria. In Paris he saw the Eiffel Tower.
Goes-in-Lodges was an early member of the Lander Pioneer Association. He was also a member of the Catholic church, but never relinquished his tribal beliefs. He was an Arapaho Medicine man and attended the Sun Dance shortly before he died. On his deathbed he was offered the white man’s medicine, but refused. He is buried in Saint Stephen’s Cemetery. Goes- In-Lodge was an honorable man, who in spite of everything he had experienced, a friend to many and true to his heritage.
Next up for the Fremont County Museum
January 24, 3-5pm at the Pioneer Museum, “Sweetwater Ranch Life, The Paintings of Jack Corbett” Exhibition Opening
February 19, 6-8pm at the Pioneer Museum, “Rag Rug Class” Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series Program
March 23, 1-3pm at the Pioneer Museum, “Women’s Tea” Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series
We will be announcing a full 2026 schedule of programs very soon, Stay Tuned!
Call the Dubois Museum 1-307-455-2284, the Pioneer Museum 1-307-332-3339 or the Riverton Museum 1-307-856-2665 for detail regarding their programs.
The Dubois Museum, the Pioneer Museum in Lander and the Riverton Museum need your financial support. In the current economic environment, the museums are more reliant than ever on donations from the private sector to continue to provide the quality programs, collections management, exhibits and services that have become their hallmark over the last four years. Please make your tax deductible contribution through the Wind River Cultural Centers Foundation www.windriverccf.com or by sending a check to Fremont County Museums 450 N 2nd Rm 320 or taking it directly to the museum you choose to support.