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Why was it important for the settlers to reach Independence Rock by July 4th?
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 type of rock is Independence Rock?
granite rock
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.
Who found Independence Rock?
William Sublette
That honor is credited to William Sublette, who held an Independence Day celebration here on July 4, 1830, as he led the first wagon train to cross the new overland route. Before an audience of 80 pioneers, he christened the rock in honor of the birth date of our nation.
Where is the independence Rock?
Located at the approximate mid-point between the Missouri River and the Pacific Coast, Independence Rock became a milestone for travelers on the Oregon Trail. The natural wagon road up the Platte and Sweetwater rivers to South Pass became the Oregon, California, Mormon, and Pony Express roads.
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.
What kind of rock is Independence Rock in Wyoming?
Independence Rock in 2015. The rock is a large rounded monolith of Archean granite typical of the surrounding region and is an isolated peak at the southeast end of the Granite Mountains.
Where is Independence Rock on the Oregon Trail?
Independence Rock is an ancient landmark that played an important role in Native American history and lore, the American fur trade industry, and the Westward Expansion. Open daily from sunrise to sunset, the Independence Rock National Historic Site is located at a rest area on Highway 220 in Wyoming.
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,…