LAKE OWASSO
This website was created to provide and gather information on the history, ecosystem, and citizens of the lake and surrounding areas.
Aerial View of Lake Owasso From the East Looking West
What's in the name?
Lake Owasso has had a few names over the years. There is no record of what the original residents of the area called this lake but "Big Bass Lake" was the name used during the late 1800's. Somehow after that it morphed into Lake Owasso.
The origin of the word 'Owasso' is also a bit of a mystery. Some have linked it to the word 'Owaissa' which was the name of the blue bird in Henry W. Longfellow's Song of Hiawatha.
There is also a Cherokee word 'Owasso' which means "the end of a trail" or a "turn around point". This may make sense since the Owasso railroad station built by the Northern Pacific near County Rd. C and Victoria, marked the end of that line that ran from downtown Minneapolis.
Finally there is a Ojibwe legend that tells of a chief who adopted into his tribe a fugitive Sauk brave, Bukadawin, who became the husband of the Chief's daughter, Princess Natomo. Soon after a son was born to the young couple. An Enemy, Spotted Snake, attempted to kill Bukadawin with a poison arrow. Natomo saw him draw his bow and threw herself upon her husband to save him. She was killed by the arrow. Heartbroken, Bukadawin buried her beneath a birch tree. He then named his son "Wasso" meaning, "one Bright Spot", as a symbol of the one remaining joy in his life.
Since no one is alive to tell us how the names evolved we'll just have to adopt whatever story we like.
- Bob Hale