where is independence rock on the oregon trail

Independence Rock is a large granite rock, approximately 130 feet (40 m) high, 1,900 feet (580 m) long, and 850 feet (260 m) wide, which is in southwestern Natrona County, Wyoming along Wyoming Highway 220

. During the middle of the 19th century, it formed a prominent and well-known landmark on the Oregon, Mormon, and California emigrant trails.

Full Answer

Where is the independent rock located at?

WyomingIndependence Rock is a large granite rock, approximately 130 feet (40 m) high, 1,900 feet (580 m) long, and 850 feet (260 m) wide, which is in southwestern Natrona County, Wyoming along Wyoming Highway 220.

What is Independence Rock on the Oregon Trail?

Independence Rock was the most-noted landmark of the wagon trails west of Fort Laramie. The rock derived its name from a party of fur trappers who camped and celebrated Independence Day near the rock on July 4, 1830.

How did Independence Rock form?

The truth is that Independence Rock is a peak from the ancient Granite Mountain Range formed in the area over 50 million years ago. Over time, this mountain range was manipulated – elevated and collapsed in turns – due to movements of the South Granite Mountain and North Granite Mountain faults.

What state is independence in Oregon Trail?

Contents. The Oregon Trail was a roughly 2,000-mile route from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon, that was used by hundreds of thousands of American pioneers in the mid-1800s to emigrate west.

Can you climb Independence Rock?

Many people don't realize that visitors can actually climb Independence Rock. As long as you are careful and respectful, you can make your way up to the top with just a little scrambling.

When was the Independence Rock found?

When the pioneer priest, Pierre-Jean De Smet, saw the rock in 1841, he found "the hieroglyphics of Indian warriors" and "the names of all the travelers who have passed by are there to be read, written in coarse characters." Other sojourners called it the backbone of the universe, but De Smet dubbed the rock "the great ...

How long did it take to get to Independence Rock on the Oregon Trail?

Initially, the journey from Independence to the Willamette valley had taken five to six months. As the trail became more heavily used, however, ferries and bridges sprang up at river crossings, and more trading posts and forts were built.

What famous grave site is located near Independence Rock?

Register Cliff, along with Independence Rock, served as a guestbook of the West and has helped historians paint a picture of life on the wagon trains. One of the most interesting relics along the route is the grave of the 19-year-old Alvah Unthank. Unthank left Indiana in 1850 on a wagon train bound for California.

Why is it called independence?

Independence comes from a nice medieval French word, depenre, meaning "to hang from," or "to hang down." The in at the beginning is Latin for "not," so the word originally meant "not hanging from," which is a neat description of what countries achieve by throwing off their colonizers.

What were the 4 major landmarks on the Oregon Trail?

Sights include Courthouse and Jail Rock, Chimney Rock, Scott's Bluff, Register Cliff, and Fort Laramie. They were even able to see the Oregon Trail Ruts along the way.

What trail is 1883 based on?

the Oregon TrailVast barren plains, tumultuous rivers, deadly bandits. These are just a few of the many obstacles faced on the Oregon trail.

Is there anything left of the Oregon Trail?

Guernsey Ruts (Guernsey, Wyoming) The tracks at Guernsey are among the most impressive remnants of Oregon Trail history. Almost every pioneer had to pass through the same spot here, going over soft sandstone. Over time, each wagon wore down the rock a bit more...and more...and more.

Why is it called independence?

Independence comes from a nice medieval French word, depenre, meaning "to hang from," or "to hang down." The in at the beginning is Latin for "not," so the word originally meant "not hanging from," which is a neat description of what countries achieve by throwing off their colonizers.

What were the 4 major landmarks on the Oregon Trail?

Sights include Courthouse and Jail Rock, Chimney Rock, Scott's Bluff, Register Cliff, and Fort Laramie. They were even able to see the Oregon Trail Ruts along the way.

How long did it take to get to Independence Rock on the Oregon Trail?

Initially, the journey from Independence to the Willamette valley had taken five to six months. As the trail became more heavily used, however, ferries and bridges sprang up at river crossings, and more trading posts and forts were built.

Why was Independence MO A good starting point for the Oregon Trail?

As the closest Missouri River landing to the town of Independence, Wayne City, or Upper Independence, Landing served as a supply port for early pioneers. It was also the starting point for many travelers who were heading west along the Oregon and California Trails.

How big is Independence Rock?

More than a mile in circumference, the rock is 700 feet wide and 1,900 feet long. Its highest point, 136 feet above the rolling prairie, stands as tall as a twelve-story building.

What was the main trail to the heart of the continent?

The Sweetwater Valley became the main trail to the heart of the continent when American fur hunters headed west in the 1820s. As the fur trade declined, thousands of pioneers followed the roads that Indians and mountain men had blazed to the West Coast. M. K.

How many people passed Independence Rock?

Over three decades, almost half a million Americans passed Independence Rock on their way to new homes on the frontier, and thousands of them added their names to Father De Smet 's great register.

What caused the mountains to sag?

Over time, the vast weight of the mountains caused them to sag into the earth's crust, and about 15 million years ago, wind-blown sand smoothed and rounded their summits. Wind and weather eventually exposed an ancient peak, creating one of America's great landmarks. Independence Rock and Sweetwater River. Tom Rea photo.

What tribes lived in the Rocky Mountains?

The tribes that ranged the central Rocky Mountains — Arapaho, Arikara, Bannock, Blackfeet, Cheyenne, Crow, Kiowa, Lakota, Pawnee, Shoshone, and Ute — visited the spot, and left carvings on the red-granite monolith they came to call Timpe Nabor, the Painted Rock.

What is the rock that overlooks the road to the West?

Independence Rock still overlooks the road to the West, an enduring symbol of Wyoming's contribution to our nation's colorful heritage and highest ideals.

What did the Pioneers believe about Independence Rock?

Pioneers believed that the rock marked the eastern border of the Rocky Mountains. They felt well on their way if they could reach Independence Rock by the Fourth of July.

What states did the Oregon Trail lead to?

The trail was arduous and snaked through Missouri and present-day Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and finally into Oregon. Without the Oregon Trail and the passing of the Oregon Donation Land Act in 1850, which encouraged settlement in the Oregon Territory, American pioneers would have been slower to settle the American West in the 19th century.

Why did the Oregon Trail become a well-beaten path?

Travelers often left warning messages to those journeying behind them if there was an outbreak of disease, bad water or hostile American Indian tribes nearby. As more and more settlers headed west, the Oregon Trail became a well-beaten path and an abandoned junkyard of surrendered possessions.

How many wagons did Whitman carry?

Great Emigration of 1843. When Whitman headed west yet again, he met up with a huge wagon train destined for Oregon. The group included 120 wagons, about 1,000 people and thousands of livestock. Their trek began on May 22 and lasted five months.

Why did the Oregon Trail leave in late spring?

Leaving in late spring also ensured there’d be ample grass along the way to feed livestock. As the Oregon Trail gained popularity, it wasn’t unusual for thousands of pioneers to be on the path at the same time, especially during the California Gold Rush.

How long did it take to travel the Oregon Trail?

Life on the Oregon Trail. Planning a five- to six-month trip across rugged terrain was no easy task and could take up to a year. Emigrants had to sell their homes, businesses and any possessions they couldn’t take with them. They also had to purchase hundreds of pounds of supplies including: flour. sugar.

What was the name of the emigration that occurred in 1843?

It effectively opened the floodgates of pioneer migration along the Oregon Trail and became known as the Great Emigration of 1843.

What was the most important item on the trail?

rifles and ammunition. By far, the most important item for successful life on the trail was the covered wagon. It had to be sturdy enough to withstand the elements yet small and light enough for a team of oxen or mules to pull day after day. Most wagons were about six feet wide and twelve feet long.

What did the settlers do in Oregon?

Many settlers knew that summer meant they would have to survive thunderstorms that charged through the area . From Independence Rock, travelers ascended the Rocky Mountains to reach the second trading post along the route. Then they moved across the Snake River Canyon, the Blue Mountains, the Columbia River, and finally, Oregon City.

Why was Independence Rock important to the Oregon Trail?

The arrival of trains going west eliminated the need to trek through the Oregon trail and, with it, the importance of Independence Rock as a marker in their journey.

How many people passed by Independence Rock?

It's estimated that almost half a million people passed by Independence Rock over the course of about 30 years, during the heyday of Western expansion, said the Wyoming State Historical Society. Of these, thousands carved their name or a message onto the rock.

What is the Oregon Trail?

Shutterstock. By Emilia David / April 8, 2021 3:57 pm EDT. Oregon Trail is more than a video game; it's an actual historical route that marks the United States' westward expansion. You can still see (and travel through) most of the routes the settlers used to reach states like California, Utah, and Oregon. One of the landmarks along the Oregon ...

What tribes carved the granite rock in Wyoming?

Several Native American tribes — the Arapaho, Arikara, Bannock, Blackfeet, Cheyenne, Crow, Kiowa, Lakota, Pawnee, Shoshone, and Ute — often visited the rock and left their carvings before the settlers even caught wind of it.

How did Independence Rock get its name?

According to the National Parks Service, Independence Rock got its name from fur trappers who camped below it on July 4, 1830. Independence Rock measures 1,900 feet long, 850 feet wide, and 136 feet high, said American Heritage.

What was the halfway point for the settlers?

It was the halfway point for many settlers. The landmark represented something very important to the settlers. Not only was it halfway through their journey, but if they reached it by July 4, many knew that they would make it to their destination before the weather turned too cold and heavy snowfall trapped them.

Why is the Rock of the Emigrant Trail named?

The rock derives its name from the fact that it lies directly along the route of the Emigrant Trail. Pioneering wagon parties bound for Oregon or California usually left the Missouri River in the early spring and hoped to reach the rock by July 4 ( Independence Day in the United States), in order to reach their destinations before the first mountain snowfalls. John C. Frémont camped a mile below this site on August 1, 1843 and made this entry in the journal of his 1843-'44 expedition:

How big is Independence Rock?

Independence Rock is a large granite rock, approximately 130 feet (40 m) high, 1,900 feet (580 m) long, and 850 feet (260 m) wide, which is in southwestern Natrona County, Wyoming along Wyoming Highway 220. During the middle of the 19th century, it formed a prominent and well-known landmark on the Oregon, Mormon, and California emigrant trails.

What was John Frémont's church?

John Frémont was actually a member of the United States Episcopal Church. On July 4, 1862, Independence Rock was the site of Wyoming's first Masonic Lodge meeting.

What did Fremont's cross represent?

Some Protestants considered the cross to be a symbol of the Pope and Catholicism.

Where is the Archean rock?

The rock is a large rounded monolith of Archean granite typical of the surrounding region and is an isolated peak at the southeast end of the Granite Mountains. Its appearance is somewhat like the rounded Enchanted Rock of Texas or Uluru in Australia (formerly known as Ayers Rock), although smaller in size.

How far above the ground is the rock inscribed with the names of travelers?

Everywhere within six or eight feet of the ground, where the surface is sufficiently smooth, and in some places sixty or eighty feet above, the rock is inscribed with the names of travelers. Many a name famous in the history of this country, and some well known to science, are to be found among those of traders and travelers.

Where is the Sweetwater River in Wyoming?

It is located in the high plateau region of central Wyoming, north of the Sentinel Rocks ridge and adjacent to the Sweetwater River. It is accessible from a rest area on Wyoming Highway 220, approximately 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Muddy Gap and 60 miles (97 km) south-west of Casper .

What was the name of the land that Jefferson purchased from France?

In 1803 President Thomas Jefferson purchased from France the Louisiana Purchase for fifteen million dollars (equivalent to about $230 million today) which included all the land drained by the Missouri River and roughly doubled the size of U.S. territory. The future states of Iowa and Missouri , located west of the Mississippi River and east of the Missouri River, were part of this purchase. The Lewis and Clark Expedition stopped several times in the future state of Iowa on their 1805-1806 expedition to the west coast. A disputed 1804 treaty between Quashquame and William Henry Harrison (future ninth President of the U.S.) that surrendered much of the future state of Illinois to the U.S. enraged many Sauk (Sac) Indians and led to the 1832 Black Hawk War. As punishment for the uprising, and as part of a larger settlement strategy, treaties were subsequently designed to remove all Indians from Iowa Territory. Some settlers started drifting into Iowa in 1833. President Martin Van Buren on July 4, 1838, signed laws establishing the Territory of Iowa. Iowa was located opposite the junction of the Platte and Missouri rivers and was used by some of the Fur trapper rendezvous traders as a starting point for their supply expeditions. In 1846 the Mormons, expelled from Nauvoo, Illinois, traversed Iowa (on part of the Mormon Trail) and settled temporarily in significant numbers on the Missouri River in Iowa and the future state of Nebraska at their Winter Quarters near the future city of Omaha, Nebraska. (See: Missouri River settlements (1846–1854)) The Mormons established about 50 temporary towns, including the town of Kanesville (renamed Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1852) on the east bank of the Missouri River opposite the mouth of the Platte. For those travelers to Oregon, California, and Utah who were bringing their teams to the Platte River junction, Kanesville and other towns become major "jumping off places" and supply points. In 1847 the Mormons established three ferries across the Missouri River, and others established even more ferries for the spring start on the trail. In the 1850 census there were about 8,000 mostly Mormons tabulated in the large Pottawattamie County, Iowa District 21. (The original Pottawattamie County was subsequently made into five counties and parts of several more.) By 1854 most of the Mormon towns, farms and villages were largely taken over by non-Mormons as they abandoned them or sold them for not much and continued their migration to Utah. After 1846 the towns of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Omaha, Nebraska (est. 1852) and other Missouri River towns became major supply points and "jumping off places" for travelers on the Mormon, California, Oregon and other trails west.

What were the trails that followed the Oregon Trail?

Numerous other trails followed the Oregon Trail for much of its length, including the Mormon Trail from Illinois to Utah; the California Trail to the gold fields of California; and the Bozeman Trail to Montana. Because it was more a network of trails than a single trail there were numerous variations, with other trails eventually established on both sides of the Platte, North Platte, Snake, and Columbia rivers. With literally thousands of people and thousands of livestock traveling in a fairly small time slot the travelers had to spread out to find clean water, wood, good campsites, and grass. The dust kicked up by the many travelers was a constant complaint, and where the terrain would allow it there may be between 20 and 50 wagons traveling abreast.

What did the emigrants use to cross the Missouri River?

Those emigrants on the eastern side of the Missouri River in Missouri or Iowa used ferries and steamboats (fitted out for ferry duty) to cross into towns in Nebraska. Several towns in Nebraska were used as "jumping off places" with Omaha eventually becoming a favorite after about 1855. Fort Kearny (est. 1848) is about 200 miles (320 km) from the Missouri River, and the trail and its many offshoots nearly all converged close to Fort Kearny as they followed the Platte River west. The army-maintained fort was the first chance on the trail to buy emergency supplies, do repairs, get medical aid, or mail a letter. Those on the north side of the Platte could usually wade the shallow river if they needed to visit the fort.

How long was the Lander Road?

It was about 80 miles (130 km) shorter than the main trail through Fort Bridger with good grass, water, firewood and fishing but it was a much steeper and rougher route, crossing three mountain ranges. In 1859, 13,000 of the 19,000 emigrants traveling to California and Oregon utilized the Lander Road.

How many Mormons were there in 1850?

In the 1850 census there were about 8,000 mostly Mormons tabulated in the large Pottawattamie County, Iowa District 21.

What was the cause of cholera?

The cause of cholera, ingesting the Vibrio cholerae bacterium from contaminated water, and the best treatment for cholera infections were unknown in this era. Literally hundreds of travelers on the combined California, Oregon, and Mormon Trails succumbed to cholera in the 1849-1855 time period. Most were buried in unmarked graves in Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming.

What towns were used as jumping off places for travelers?

1852) and other Missouri River towns became major supply points and "jumping off places" for travelers on the Mormon, California, Oregon and other trails west.