How did Independence Rock get its name?
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.
What is the nickname for Independence Rock?
Great Register of the DesertCalled the "Great Register of the Desert", more than 5,000 names of early emigrant were carved on this boulder. Starting the trail in the early spring, emigrants along the Oregon Trail hoped to reach Independence Rock by July 4, Independence Day. If they had not arrived by then, they knew they were behind schedule.
How many names are on Independence Rock?
5,000 namesIndependence Rock also known as the Register of the Desert for the more than 5,000 names that are a part of our pioneering history. One of the earliest signatures carved into the large granite rock is 1824 by M. K. Hugh.
When was Independence Rock established?
The site was designated a National Historic Landmark on January 20, 1961 and is now part of Independence Rock State Historic Site, owned and operated by the state of Wyoming....Independence Rock (Wyoming)Significant datesDesignated NHLJanuary 20, 196112 more rows
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.
Is Independence Rock still there?
Through the years, much of the trail through the land surrounding Independence Rock has disappeared beneath modern cities and highways. However, the significance it holds is as embedded in the people of Wyoming as the hundreds of miles of ruts and swales still marking its course.
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 is Independence Rock made of?
One of the few landmarks in this desolate, uninhabited land is Independence Rock, a rounded granite extrusion rising 128 feet above the level prairie, supposedly named because an ideal schedule would see the travelers reaching this point around Independence Day (July 4th) in order to be able to cross the Sierra Nevada ...
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.
Was Independence Rock the halfway point?
The settlers gave a sigh of relief if they reached Independence Rock—a huge granite rock in Wyoming that marked the halfway point of their journey—by July 4 because it meant they were on schedule.
How tall is Independence Rock in Wyoming?
128 feetIndependence Rock - Natrona County, Wyoming Independence Rock was the most-noted landmark on the emigrant trails west of Fort Laramie. An oval outcrop of granite rock, it is 1,900 feet long, 700 feet wide, and rises 128 feet above the range.
What is Rock Springs WY known for?
The railroad's conversion to diesel and oil power in the mid-1900s drove out many of the city's coal mines. But today, Rock Springs thrives with trona mines and the oil and gas industry, keeping the city vibrant and making it a local hub for dining, shopping, and attractions.
What does the nickname rock mean?
Symbolism of the name Rock: The baby name Rock means “rest” because of the name Rocco. The latter comes from the Germanic root word “hrok” that means the same. The saint who used this nickname helped the sick find rest.
What type of rock is Independence Rock?
granite rockIndependence Rock was the most-noted landmark on the emigrant trails west of Fort Laramie. An oval outcrop of granite rock, it is 1,900 feet long, 700 feet wide, and rises 128 feet above the range.
Why was Independence Rock an important landmark?
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. Those who did often celebrated America's birthday.
What was painted on the monolith at Independence Rock?
Long before emigrants carved their initials into the granite monolith, the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Crow, Shoshone, Ute, and other Indian tribes left carvings on this rock.
Who painted the Rock of Independence?
This national treasure is part of the historic legacy belonging to all Americans, and few places evoke that heritage as powerfully as Independence Rock. William Henry Jackson, who first passed Independence Rock in 1866, painted this watercolor of the Rock, with Devil's Gate in the background, from memory in 1936.
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.
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 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.
How to contact Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park?
If you have questions about the event, please contact the Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park office at (307) 577-5150, or the BLM office at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center at (307) 261-7700.
How did the Rock of Independence get its name?
K. Hugh. The Rock received its name after an Independence Day celebration with William Sublette and 80 pioneers. The name stuck and became a landmark and goal of the more than 550,000 westward travelers. The Rock's highest point sits 136 feet above the surrounding terrain. In the distance can be seen what is known as the Devil's Gate where the river has carved a 330 foot deep cut through rock.
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What is the name of the rock that was scanned by LiDAR?
Click here to view LiDAR Scanning of Independence Rock!
How deep is Devil's Gate?
In the distance can be seen what is known as the Devil's Gate where the river has carved a 330 foot deep cut through rock.
Is it illegal to deface a rock?
It is for this reason that laws have been instituted for the protection of this National and Historical Monument. It is therefore unlawful to deface, or defile in anyway, shape or form any part of the Rock. Independence Rock State Historic Site. Independence Rock State Historic Site.
