Princess Mishawaka statue in Mishawaka

The Princess Mishawaka statue and plaque in Mishawaka, Indiana is a tribute to the legend of a Shawnee Indian maiden, Mishawaka, daughter of Chief Elkhart. There are different versions of Mishawaka’s life and a question of whether she was even real.

The plaque tells the story that Princess Mishawaka was a fierce warrior and, after her father was injured in a battle with the Potawatomi, she led her people until she was captured by the Potawatomi. While being held captive, she fell in love with a white man named Dead Shot. Hoping to gain favor with her father, a Shawnee named Gray Wolf rescued Mishawaka. Dead Shot, not to be denied his love, fought with Gray Wolf for Mishawaka. Losing the battle, Gray Wolf stabbed Mishawaka before he died. Dead Shot nursed Mishawaka back to health and they were married, living along the nearby St. Joseph River. But is that the full story?

The Princess Mishawaka Society states that Mishawaka was indeed the daughter of Chief Elkhart and was abducted by a Potawatomi Indian, Gray Wolf. She was rescued by, and later married, a white trapper named Dead Shot.

The History Museum in nearby South Bend, Indiana shares the story of Mishawaka but indicates the story was likely fictional and invented in the 1930s to promote tourism.

The town of Mishawaka is nicknamed the “Princess City,” and the Indian translation is “swift water,” “big rapids,” or “thick woods rapids.” The bronze statue was created in 1987 by sculptor Sufi Ahmad.