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The unbridled spirit of Mary Ingles’ was appropriately honored July 16th and 17th at Big Bone Lick State Park. Descendents from as far away as Arkansas and Washington state were drawn to the 250th anniversary of Mary’s escape from the Shawnee who had gone to Big Bone Lick for the purpose of gathering salt in the fall of 1755. Mary’s desire to return to her home and family in Draper’s Meadow, Virginia led her on an 800-1000 mile trek, placing her and the old Dutch woman as the first white women to travel in that section of the United States.

The celebration began at noon with acclamations and/or proclamations from the Boone County Fiscal Court presented by Shawn Cox, the Kentucky House of Representatives given by Representative Paul Marcotte, the Kentucky State Senate offered by Senator Richard Roeding, Governor Ernie Fletcher delivered by Adia Wuchner, and finally a congratulations from President George Bush and First Lady Laura Bush read by Don Clare of FOBB.

Various activities followed at 2:00 which caught the mood of this momentous occasion as well as provided various viewpoints of the Mary Ingles’ saga. During the day, descendents and visitors walked an interpretive trail led by Don Miller, local archeologist, who put into perspective the lay of the land from pre-historic times up to the time of Mary’s escape. The trail ended at the Ole’ Caintuckee Primitives site where one of its members, dressed as a French trader, explained the importance of salt making from the brackish waters of the marshy area that now is part of Big Bone Park.

Joyce Baer gave two performances of her one woman show about Mary Ingles’ capture, escape, and journey home. Eleanor Lahr also told her version of follow the river twice by recounting her adventure in 1987 while traveling Mary’s route. Both women’s performances took place in the Big Bone Methodist Church which highlighted the historic significance of the church and the ongoing restoration project to be completed by the Friends of Big Bone and the Kentucky Parks Department.

Further festivities took place at Split Rock Conservation Park where a dinner honoring the 250th anniversary of Mary Ingles’ escape was laid out for descendents and visitors. Those present gained insight regarding Mary’s dilemma by a thought-provoking after dinner talk given by Dark Rain. As a member of the Shawnee Nation she shared her knowledge as to why the Shawnees attacked Draper’s Meadow and captured Mary, her children and sister-in-law and others. She honored Mary’s escape by pointing out that this woman chose to keep her marriage vows and return to her husband Will rather than accept the Shawnee chief Wildcat’s offer to be his future partner. Finally Mary’s ordeal was presented in a moving ballad entitled “Mary’s Hope” sung by song-writer and vocalist of the band Salt of the Earth, Lynne Reif who had traveled from St. Louis to participate in this celebration.The evening closed with walks to Split Rock on the Ohio River, playing guitars and singing, opportunities to talk with Dark Rain and her husband James Alexander Thom, author of Follow the River, and viewing Jude Miller’s film The Captives which covered the Mary Ingles’ saga.

Though the day was heavy with humidity and periodic threats of rain, the event unfolded in a timely fashion. Members of the Friends of Big Bone and Mark Jacobs, director of Split Rock, had completed their jobs and provided a unique celebration. On Sunday Reverand James Saunder’s sermon, given at Big Bone Methodist Church, drew the entire affair to a close. By pointing out that the desire for salt, which had drawn the prehistoric animals as well as the Shawnees and Mary Ingles to Big Bone Lick, had again drawn the descendents to the same area 250 years later. By participating in this two day affair, all present honored Mary Ingles and her unbridled spirit.