The Face of the Buffalo Nickel Comes to Wildwood in 1914
Russ Strittmatter, Board of Directors and Julia Ittah, Manager
 

   Let’s turn back time to June 25, 1876 to the Battle of Little BigHorn. The BigHorn is a river located in Montana. Known as “Custer’s Last Stand,” this battle would be the last major Native American Victory in the Indian Wars of the American West. American’s sought access to the gold found in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Montana. The Indigenous peoples they fought against sought to protect their sacred lands from settlers. Chiefs Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Brave Wolf, Buffalo Hump, Two Moons, Spotted Wolf, and Old Wolf led the Sioux and Cheyenne Indian Nations into battle against Custer. Custer’s army underestimated their opponents to say the least! All of Custer’s troops were killed, including Custer himself. Despite their temporary victory, however, the Cheyenne found themselves once again subjugated by an American General, General Miles, in 1877.
   One particular Cheyenne chief, Chief Two Moons, befriended his captors and later enrolled in the military’s Indian Scout program. Two Moon’s pleasant personality soon earned him the trust of the white man, as General Miles went on to install Chief Two Moons as the head chief of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.
   In this position, Two Moons became an outspoken advocate for improving the living conditions for Indigenous peoples living on reservations. He became so well known in fact, that Two Moons was one of 3 indigenous men who modeled for the Buffalo Nickel, which was circulated from 1909 to 1932. By the summer of 1914, President Woodrow Wilson invited Chief Two Moons to the White House in Washington, D.C. to discuss conditions on reservations, negotiate improvements, and sign a treaty. 
   So how did Chief Two Moons end up in Wildwood, New Jersey on July 18th, 1914? Well, by 1914, Two Moons was the last living leader from the Battle of Little BigHorn. And the fraternal organization known as the Order of the Red Men invited Two Moons to lead their convention parade through the streets of Wildwood. Keep in mind, the Order of Red Men was a club open only to white men. Their message was temperance, patriotism, and American History.
   On July 18th, 1914, Two Moons exited his hotel, the Dorsey, at 209 East Montgomery Avenue to lead a parade of 1,500 strong through the streets of Wildwood. Two Moons stood close to 7 feet tall, and was an especially imposing figure when seen with his Cheyenne war bonnet. The bonnet was adorned with eagle feathers and beads, both symbolizing his courage as a chief and warrior. He wore pants made of breechcloth and a Buffalo cloak, used to protect from the rain. All elements of his dress were characteristic of traditional Cheyenne dress.
   Two Moons posed for photos and signed autographs following the parade. Now all in Wildwood could see the man behind the Buffalo Nickel. Following his short stay in Wildwood, Two Moons departed for Washington. He died only 3 years later in his home state of Montana.