National Park Service News Release

KANE CEMETERY CLEAN UP DAY SET FOR SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2015
In 1965 with the Yellowtail Dam nearing completion, the Bureau of Reclamation thought that a full capacity Bighorn Lake would flood the town of Kane. They condemned the land and many families were forced to move, taking with them hard feelings toward the government and leaving behind few physical reminders of the town. One of those reminders is the Kane/Ionia Cemetery, now part of the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.

While some families continued to visit the cemetery, for the most part it had been forgotten until it was maliciously vandalized in November of 2009. This incident increased awareness and interest in the local community and inspired the first Kane Cemetery clean-up day in 2012. Since then, many improvements have been made to the site including new signs, a new gate, and a walk through gate.

May 16 is this year’s Kane clean-up day. Bighorn Canyon staff would like to invite all who are interested in the history and preservation of the Kane/Ionia Cemetery to join us to help maintain this site. We will be pulling weeds, picking up trash and tidying up. Volunteers should bring a potluck lunch item to share, gloves, water, good shoes, and appropriate outer gear for the weather. The group will meet at the Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center at 9 A.M. After volunteer forms are completed, the group will carpool out to the cemetery. At noon the group will return to the visitor center for a potluck lunch, reminiscing and storytelling.

Thank you all for your help!!!