Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins (1844-1891)

Proposed Text, Marker Plate in Production:

Sarah Winnemucca, whose Paiute name was Thocmentony (Shell-flower), was the daughter of Chief Winnemucca, and granddaughter of Captain Truckee, a friend and supporter of Captain John C. Frémont.  Sarah Winnemucca sought understanding between her people and European Americans when the latter settled on Paiute homelands.  Sarah lectured, wrote a foundational book in American Indian literature, and founded the non-government Peabody School for Native children outside of Lovelock, Nevada.  She worked tirelessly to remedy injustice for her people and to advocate peace.  Here at Fort McDermitt she served as an interpreter and teacher.  Because of her importance to the nation’s history, Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins was honored in 2005 with a statue in the National Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol.

STATE HISTORIC MARKER No. 143

 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE

MRS. CURTIS S. HARNER