What is Independence Rock known for?
Independence Rock was the most-noted landmark of the wagon trails west of Fort Laramie. They carved their names and messages into the granite, using Independence Rock as a bulletin board for Oregon Trail travelers. In 1961, it was designated a national historic landmark managed by the State of Wyoming.
How did Independence Rock get its name?
Independence Rock – Natrona County, Wyoming An oval outcrop of granite rock, it is 1,900 feet long, 700 feet wide, and rises 128 feet above the range. The rock derived its name from a party of fur trappers who camped there and celebrated Independence Day in their own style on July 4, 1830.
What did independence Rock look like?
At a distance, J. Goldsborough Bruff said the rock “looks like a huge whale.” Like other goldrushers, Bruff found it “painted & marked in every way, all over, with names, dates, initials.” To George Harter, Independence Rock was shaped “much like an apple cut in the middle and one half laid flat side down.”
Does Independence Rock still exist?
Described by most as “looking like a great beached whale…,” the Rock is now the site of a modern Highway Rest Area and State Interpretative Site. It was the names carved in stone here that caused Father Peter J. DeSmet to appropriately name this place “The Register of the Desert” in 1840.
Where is Devil’s Gate?
Wyoming
Devil’s Gate or Devils Gate is a natural rock formation, a gorge on the Sweetwater River in Wyoming, United States, five miles (8 km) southwest of Independence Rock.
What happened at Independence Rock?
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. Fremont carved a large cross into the rock monolith, which was blasted off the rock on July 4, 1847 by hundreds of California and Oregon emigrants who had gathered on the site.
What disease caused the most deaths along the Oregon Trail?
Illness and Death on the Trail
- Death was rampant on the Oregon Trail.
- Diseases ranged from a fever to dysentery, but the most deadly disease was cholera.
- Accidents accounted for a horde of deaths, too.
What dangers did the pioneers face?
Obstacles included accidental discharge of firearms, falling off mules or horses, drowning in river crossings, and disease. After entering the mountains, the trail also became much more difficult, with steep ascents and descents over rocky terrain. The pioneers risked injury from overturned and runaway wagons.
Why is Devil’s Gate important?
Devil’s Gate in Wyoming was an important landmark for emigrants traveling on the Mormon Pioneer, California, and Oregon national historic trails. At this point they were nearly half-way on their journey.
Is there a Devil’s Gate 2?
Devil’s Gate director Clay Staub assures fans that he’s trying to make Devil’s Gate 2, a sequel to the 2018 horror movie, happen. Premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2017, Devil’s Gate begins as Daria Francis (Amanda Schull), an FBI agent, is investigating the disappearance of a mother and her son.
What are the dangers of going on the Oregon Trail?
Major threats to pioneer life and limb came from accidents, exhaustion, and disease. Crossing rivers were probably the most dangerous thing pioneers did. Swollen rivers could tip over and drown both people and oxen. Such accidents could cause the loss of life and most or all of valuable supplies.
How did the Independence Rock get its name?
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. The rock derived its name from a party of fur trappers who camped there and celebrated Independence Day in their own style on July 4, 1830.
How tall is the Independence Rock in Wyoming?
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.
How many people passed Independence Rock on their way to new homes?
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.
Who are the people that visited Independence Rock?
Independence Rock. Independence Rock and Sweetwater River. Tom Rea photo. 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,…
