Comments on: The Story of Cigar Store Indians

By: Kate Kelly

Kate Kelly — Thu, 28 May 2026 12:55:00 +0000

In reply to HistoryBuff. You make an excellent point. Perhaps my article should have taken into acount the broader cultural impact. However, the fact that the carvings began in England in the 1600s signaled to me that it was more gimmick than slander. The continued use of the cigar store Indians during the 19th century would not have been helpful. Your point is well made. Thank you for taking the time to add context.

By: HistoryBuff

HistoryBuff — Wed, 27 May 2026 23:19:49 +0000

The “Cigar Store Indian” is deeply problematic because it represents a form of structural exploitation. It reduces a holy, ceremonial medicine (tobacco), into a shallow marketing gimmick to sell an addictive consumer product.
More dark is the historical timing: these statues peaked during the 19th century, when the US government was violently displacing Indigenous peoples, taking their land, and outlawing their languages and religious ceremonies. The dominant society was actively trying to eliminate living Native Americans while using a silent, romanticized wooden version of them to turn a profit.
Ultimately, these statues flattened hundreds of unique, sovereign nations into a single caricature of the primitive “Noble Savage.” By framing Indigenous peoples as static relics of the past, the statues helped the public ignore the ongoing realities of living communities, turning human identity into commercial property. Further, the fact that many carvers never actually saw a native in person, but used exaggerated portrayals and blended completely unrelated tribal elements—combining Plains-style feathered war bonnets with Woodlands-style buckskins or stylized, Europeanized facial features, shows just how detached from reality this imagery truly was and it cannot be defended as innocent or a tribute but only as a moniker.

By: Kate Kelly

Kate Kelly — Thu, 14 May 2026 13:47:28 +0000

In reply to Barbrajane0116@gmail.com. Thanks for posting.

By: Barbrajane0116@gmail.com

Barbrajane0116@gmail.com — Wed, 13 May 2026 00:50:03 +0000

I am so excited to learn this history I I would like to read more information…back in time. Late 1800 thru early 1900 people had to quit school to get a job so they wouldn’t starve…seeing these indian carvings and the barber shop colors gave them relief..when going in store…

By: Kate Kelly

Kate Kelly — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 15:20:11 +0000

In reply to Mihku.

Thank you for posting. The story of Chief Standing Bear goes into a lot that happened: https://americacomesalive.com/chief-standing-bears-victory-for-civil-rights/

By: Mihku

Mihku — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 14:17:22 +0000

How very interesting that those who have thus far responded to this article feel the need to either describe Indigenous people as “noble” or include disclaimers that they respect us. For those too lazy or ignorant to read a book, symbols like this are social and political markers of dominance, from a society that IMMIGRATED here and stole Indigenous land, systematically removed resources to ship back to Europe, and enslaved both Indigenous and African peoples to work on sugar and tobacco plantations. Our tobacco was found to be so desirable that a whole industry grew up around it. Any number of symbols could have been chosen to indicate a smoke shop. But Settlers chose a carved iteration of our actual bodies and visage. And it is offensive. The facts of history cannot be denied, you see, just because it makes you uncomfortable. But perhaps your readers aren’t literate enough to educate themselves on those facts.

By: Kate Kelly

Kate Kelly — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 13:12:02 +0000

In reply to Dawn Emerick.

Thank you so much! That’s a fascinating perspective, and yes, I think barber shops were a place for men to gather…I’d never thought of the cigar store Indian as a sentinal for free speech! Excellent information…thank you!

By: Dawn Emerick

Dawn Emerick — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 09:27:02 +0000

I recently came across an old magazine article written in 1955 with illustrations of cigar store Indians. It begins “every cigar store Indian was a sentinel for free speech. Every barber shop was a listening post.” Apparently, these as symbols already belonged to an earlier time. The author calls them “male sanctums” where lively discussions happened, providing “a forum of public opinion”.

By: Kate Kelly

Kate Kelly — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:40:25 +0000

In reply to M. Scott.

Thank you! I’m often surprised, too, when I look into these things. It’s always interesting, and yes, history is important–and fun!
Have a good weekend.
Kate

By: M. Scott

M. Scott — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 14:12:36 +0000

I greatly enjoyed learning the real story behind cigar store Indians! I never knew this interesting history! I knew that Native Americans introduced Europeans to tobacco but I didn’t realize they supplied them with it, too! And I didn’t know that ship carvers were the artists! I really learned some great information, history is so important, thank you!