In celebration of Indiana’s 2016 Bicentennial, 15 geocaches have been placed throughout St. Joseph County near historic sites or places of interest. It is our goal to highlight interesting areas in the county, as well as to introduce new cachers to the hobby.
Mishawaka legend holds that the city is named after Princess Mishawaka, the daughter of Chief Elkhart of the Shawnee tribe (in the 19th century, "princess" was a term often used to describe a tribal Chief's daughter). According to the story, the Shawnee were permitted to settle on Potawatomi lands in the late 18th century, and Potawatomi Chief Grey Wolf soon fell in love with Princess Mishawaka. She rejected his advances and pledged her love to a white trapper, known only as Deadshot. A war between the two tribes ensued and Grey Wolf captured her, threatening to kill her unless she married him. Deadshot followed him, however, and the two men fought to the death, but not before Grey Wolf stabbed the Princess in the chest. She recovered, but died in 1818 at the age of 32. She was supposedly buried near Lincoln Park, where a bronze marker recounts the legend. The marker is located a short drive away, at N 41° 39.791 / W 086° 11.509, just west of the 100 Center along the River Walk.
Please return the cache to exactly where you found it and concealed as well or better!