Federal officials have awarded the designation of National Historical Landmark to the Wyandotte National Burial Ground in downtown Kansas City, Kansas. An estimated number up to about 600 of the Wyandotte Native Americans are buried there. Graves date back to 1843.

Among the number buried there are Eliza Burton Conley, who in 1910 became the first native American to argue in front of the Supreme Court of the United States. At that time, developers were trying to buy the land and move the graves. Oddly enough, Conley lost that battle but the developers gave up anyway. Other developers have since tried to purchase the land but have never succeeded.

Now with the land on the National Historical Register, Conley can rest knowing that the land will always remain a burial ground. The Wyandotte Nation in Oklahoma plans to install signage and take other appropriate measures to protect the property.

Funeral Director Daily take: Better late than never. It is somewhat amazing to us that it has taken over 100 years to protect this cemetery. Cemeteries are difficult to commercially develop because of the issue of moving graves. Somethings are just better left the way they are. . . .such as cemeteries.