Independence Rock can be seen from the top of Prospect Hill The formation sits another 23 miles away from where pioneers could see it for the first time The oldest known, marked grave on the Oregon Trail belongs to 6-year-old Joel Hembree, who fell off a wagon and was run over
What famous gravesite is located near Independence Rock?
The Ada Magill grave lies in sight of the North Platte River, left rear Named for a fur trader’s Fourth of July celebration in 1830, this huge rock became one of the most famous of all Oregon Trail landmarks
How far is Independence Rock from Casper?
60 mi Location 60 mi (97 km) SW of Casper on WYO 220, Natrona County, Wyoming Coordinates 42494°N 107133°WCoordinates:42494°N 107133°W Area 170 acres (69 ha) NRHP reference No 66000757 Significant dates
Why is Devil’s Gate called Devil’s Gate?
Although the cleft was too narrow for wagons to pass through alongside the river, emigrants frequently stopped to hike around these rocks and carve their names
What dangers did the pioneers face?
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
Why was Independence Rock such a welcome sight for pioneers?
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
Is there a Devil’s Gate City?
Devil’s Gate in Wyoming But whether you prefer to believe in geology or legends, Devil’s Gate is listed on the National Register of Places in the United States in recognition of its historic significance The enormous chunk of granite, as you might imagine, makes an awesome landmark
What is the most mentioned landmark in journals from the pioneers?
During 1800’s, Chimney Rock served as the most noted landmark along the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails As the emigrants passed by this rock, most of them noted in their diaries or journals that they were glad to see that they are going the right direction and it spired to the heavens
How many states were traveled on the Oregon Trail?
The trail from Independence to Oregon City crossed portions of six present-day states The first 16 miles were in Missouri, then the trail crossed into Kansas for 165 miles, Nebraska for 424 miles, Wyoming for 491 miles, Idaho for 510 miles and finally Oregon for 524 miles
What dangers did settlers face as they moved west?
Once they embarked, settlers faced numerous challenges: oxen dying of thirst, overloaded wagons, and dysentery, among others Trails were poorly marked and hard to follow, and travelers often lost their way Guidebooks attempted to advise travelers, but they were often unreliable
Why is Independence Rock so important?
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
Is there a Devil’s Gate Town?
Located near Devil’s Gate is a site known as Martin’s Cove, where scenes of the suffering and death of members of the handcart companies of 1856 unfolded These sites can be accessed and interpreted at the Mormon Handcart Historic Site The address is 47600 WY-220, Alcova, WY 82620 Admission to the site is free
What were the real enemies of the pioneers on the trail?
The real enemies of the pioneers were cholera, poor sanitation and–surprisingly–accidental gunshots The first emigrants to go to Oregon in a covered wagon were Marcus and Narcissa Whitman (and Henry and Eliza Spalding) who made the trip in 1836
What landmarks did the pioneers see on the Oregon Trail?
Some of the best known included Blue Mound in Kansas; Courthouse and Jail rocks, Chimney Rock, and Scotts Bluff in Nebraska; Laramie Peak, Independence Rock, Devil’s Gate, Split Rock, the Wind River Range, and Twin Buttes (near the South Pass) in Wyoming; Three Buttes (near Fort Hall) in Idaho; and Flagstaff Hill and,
Why is it called Independence Rock?
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
Which stop on the Oregon Trail means flagstone in French?
The Dalles served as a transition point on the trail Soon, fur-traders and missionaries came to the area, and the region became known as “The Dalles,” meaning “flagstone” in French
How many people died on the Oregon Trail?
The more pressing threats were cholera and other diseases, which were responsible for the vast majority of the estimated 20,000 deaths that occurred along the Oregon Trail
Is there a Devil’s Gate?
Devil’s Gate is a narrow cleft carved by the Sweetwater River through a ridge called the Sweetwater Rocks-370 feet deep, 1,500 feet long, and only 50 feet wide in places Devil’s Gate is among the more interesting geographical landmarks along the emigrant trails
What bad things happened on the Oregon Trail?
Stream and river crossings, steep descents and ascents, violent storms, and the persistent threat of disease among large groups of travelers were the most common challenges Disease was the greatest threat on the trail, especially cholera, which struck wagon trains in years of heavy travel
Did the Oregon Trail go through Colorado?
Colorado A branch of the Oregon Trail crossed the very northeast corner of Colorado if they followed the South Platte River to one of its last crossings Later settlers to much of what became the state of Colorado followed the Platte and South Platte rivers into their settlements there
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 disease caused the most deaths along the Oregon Trail?
“Death from diseases usually came quickly and painfully” Although dysentery as a cause of death gained in notoriety with the popularity of 1970s educational computer game The Oregon Trail, in truth cholera killed a far greater number, according to various sources