26 Nebraskaland • August-September 2025
A different account in a 1901 Omaha
World-Herald — said to be firsthand
from an unidentified person who
witnessed the events in the winter
of 1869-70 — said it was exactly 27
Crows who dismounted horses and
climbed the butte with only their
blankets, rifles and ammunition.
One difference in the story is that
just one elder Crow was assigned
to distract the Sioux, and did so by
zigzagging around the south side
firing a rifle at night — an attempt to
give the appearance of multiple people
trying to escape.
Instead of the harmonious ending of
the other legend, the old man was said
to have been forced at dawn back up the
butte, where he jumped to his death.
The 26 others had already descended
to the prairie on their makeshift ropes,
but they were on foot and soon caught
and killed by the Sioux.
Like the peaceful ending of the first
story better? As with most legends, it's
impossible to know how much, if any,
of the stories are true. One thing is for
sure: We'll continue to be captivated
by the sight of this picturesque
landform standing resolute over the
White Valley.
N
TOP LEFT: Cattle graze on the lush
grass as fog hangs among the butte's
crags in spring.
TOP RIGHT: With the ice of Fort
Robinson State Park's Grabel Ponds in
the foreground, Crow Butte and Little
Crow Butte are silhouetted by the
pre-dawn sun.
BOTTOM LEFT: Fog rises from a private
pond with Crow Butte in the distance.
BOTTOM RIGHT: The crepuscular rays
of morning grace the sky above Crow
Butte and the Pine Ridge.
