Independence Rock on the Oregon Trail - Wyoming
by Susan Rissi Tregoning
Title
Independence Rock on the Oregon Trail - Wyoming
Artist
Susan Rissi Tregoning
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
A distant perspective of Independence Rock is observed from across the meandering Sweetwater River.
Independence Rock is the most noted landmark on the Oregon Trail west of Fort Laramie, Wyoming. With a circumference of over a mile, this colossal granite formation, which looks a bit like a giant turtle, sprawls over 27 acres. It is 700 feet wide, 1,900 feet long, and 136 feet tall at its highest point.
Independence Rock is said to have received its name from a group of fur trappers who camped nearby on July 4, 1830. This became a key milestone for travelers heading west since making it to the Rock by the 4th of July meant they were on schedule to cross the Rockies before the winter snows made the mountains unpassable.
With the Sweetwater River nearby, Independence Rock was a popular encampment site for countless Oregon Trail pioneers, who etched their names and messages into the rock, transforming it into an informal message board known as the “register of the desert.” These inscriptions served as historical graffiti that captured personal legacies and reassured the following emigrants that they were on the correct path toward hope and prosperity.
In 1961, the State of Wyoming declared Independence Rock a National Historic Landmark, acknowledging its significance to American history for its pivotal role in embodying human perseverance during America’s era of Westward Expansion.
Copyright 2024 Susan Rissi Tregoning
Uploaded
May 13th, 2024
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