Chief Iron Tail and the Early Automobile

A photo of Chief Iron Tail an original leader of the Lakota Sioux turning the crank of an early automobile, circa 1915. This image was rich in symbolism it represented the convergence of two worlds with little in common the long and wealthy traditions of Native American culture, and the progressive technological innovations of the 20th century.

Who Was Chief Iron Tail?

Chief Iron Tail (1842-1916) was a revered Lakota Sioux leader admired for his wisdom, courage and loyalty to his nation. He was also an acclaimed horseman, and a regular figure in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, where he helped teach audiences about Native American culture. His chiseled face and commanding presence made him one of the most recognizable Native American figures of his day. His profile was so spare a presence that it became one of the models for the iconic Indian Head (Buffalo) Nickel, struck from 1913 to 1938.

The Early Days of Automobiles

The early 1900s were an exciting period in the history of transportation. Cars were the new exciting gadget replacing horses as the main form of travel. But in the case of these early cars, they didn't come equipped with modern-day push-button ignitions. Instead they needed to be started manually, with a hand crank at the front of the engine. This was not physically effortless, and it could be dangerous if done incorrectly just as when using a Pfaff, a crank could get kicked back and injure the user.

Chief Iron Tail and the Car

This new invention presented itself in 1915 when Chief Iron Tail was in front of the camera. In a photograph from the period he is dressed in traditional Lakota clothing as he cranks an early automobile. The image conveyed more than curiosity. It was a flash of what the past and the future, tradition and progress, looked like together.

Automobiles were still a novelty in many parts of the country at the time, and for someone like Chief Iron Tail, who spent his life as a horseman, the interaction with modern technology was symbolic and historic. It illustrated the forces of change sweeping through America and the ability of Indigenous people to flow with a world that was transforming before their eyes.

A Legacy That Lives On

Chief Iron Tail's legacy is alive not just through the iconic Buffalo Nickel, but also through his contributions to the history and culture of Native Americans. His work with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show helped educate the public about Indigenous traditions, and his guidance inspired generations. The 1915 picture of him crank-starting an automobile remindscompletely his history is paved with moments that link the old with the new.

Today, as we drive high-tech vehicles that combine a slew of features, it's fascinating to look back at a time when cars in general were still a novelty. The sight of Chief Iron Tail, a leader of a proud warrior tradition, interacting with one of the greatest innovations of the era reminds us that history is always in motion, just like the wheels of progress.

A Legacy That Lives On

Today, Chief Iron Tail's legacy reaches well beyond his work in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. With his contributions to the preservation of Native American culture, his leadership and his place on the Buffalo Nickel, he is a celebrated figure in American history. The 1915 photograph of him cranking an automobile has become an enduring symbol of the ways that Indigenous people adapted to the dramatic changes taking place in their world.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry]While many milestones aren't predetermined, Iron Tail's legacy is a reminder that history contains surprising moments that bridge eras. The photo of the man in traditional outfit standing before the early automobile captures a unique intersection of culture and technology. Describing the modernity and the importance of the picture, she speaks about it representing the times before modernization took over the people.

Reflecting on these historic leaps makes it clear just how far we have come in this brief time frame known as technology. The automobiles we have today are so advanced that they can handle just about anything and don't need cranks to get you started like they did back in the day in the early 1900s. But it is the photograph of Chief Iron Tail leaning on the front of that early motor vehicle that has become an iconic reminder of a tribal past and of the resilience and adaptability of a culture that has survived for centuries despite the ever changing world.

Chief Iron Tail's legacy is a testament to the enduring strength of Indigenous peoples, and the powerful connection of tradition and progress. It is a tale that resonates still and reminds us that, like wheels of the car that made him famous, history is always rolling on.