Independence Rock (Wyoming)
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oregon trail rock
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Independence Rock
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| Location: | 60 mi. SW of Casper on WYO 220, Natrona County, Wyoming, USA |
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| Coordinates: | 42°29′37″N 107°7′46″W / 42.49361°N 107.12944°WCoordinates: 42°29′37″N 107°7′46″W / 42.49361°N 107.12944°W |
| Governing body: | Wyoming State Parks |
| NRHP Reference#: | 66000757 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP: | October 15, 1966[1] |
| Designated NHL: | January 20, 1961[2] |
Independence Rock is a large granite rock, approximately 130 feet (40 m) high, in southwestern Natrona County in the U.S. state of Wyoming, along Wyoming Highway 220. During the middle of the 19th century, the rock was a prominent and well-known landmark on the Oregon, Mormon and California emigrant trails. It was designated a National Historic Landmark on January 20, 1961.[2] It is now part of Independence Rock State Historic Site, owned and operated by the state of Wyoming.
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[edit] Description
The rock is a large rounded extrusion of Archean granite typical of the surrounding region. Its appearance is somewhat like the rounded Enchanted Rock of Texas or the Uluru in Australia (also called Ayers Rock), although smaller in size. It is located in the high plateau region of central Wyoming, north of the Green Mountains and close to the Sweetwater River. It is accessible from a rest area on Wyoming Highway 220, approximately 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Muddy Gap.
There have been several theories regarding how the rock was carved. One explanation that comes from The History Channel states that several stonecarvers set up shop on the rock and charged a small fee to carve names. This would explain the fact that some names appear to be from the same hand and are professional looking as well. However they got there, they serve to remind us of the varied history of the founding and settling of the United States. Independence Rock is considered the highest point of the short Granite Mountains sub-range.
[edit] History
The rock derives its name from the fact that it lies directly along the route of the Emigrant Trail and that emigrant wagon parties bound for Oregon or California, which usually left the Missouri River in the early spring, attempted to reach the rock by July 4 (Independence Day in the United States), in order to reach their destinations before the first mountain snowfalls.
[edit] References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-22. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
- ^ a b "Independence Rock". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=566&ResourceType=Site. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
[edit] External links
Media related to Independence Rock (Wyoming) at Wikimedia Commons
- Independence Rock National Historic Landmark at the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office
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