Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming

Black Hills extend into Wyoming where another National Monument stands in all its majesty. Devils Tower pops out of the hills, creating confusion for the eye and the brain. It is the core of a volcano that never formed. The rock formation developed as columns, and you can see that over time, these columns have broken off.  












 


Leading up to Devils Tower is an area of boulders on which you can climb. Climbers wishing to go higher need to register. Visitors can travel along an easy hour-long path which encircles the tower.

Known as a sacred place of worship to Native American tribes, there are different legends that explain the harsh formation. All of them, although slightly different, explain that the “scrapes” in the side of the mountain are the result of a bear trying to climb the tower and his claws scraped the sides. Most Native tribes call this area Bear’s Lodge or Bear’s House. According to legend, when white men explored the area, they asked what it was called, and they misunderstood the native language and interpreted it as House of the Bad Man, rather than House of the Bear. There are groups now lobbying to have the name changed or modified to Devils Tower at Bear’s Lodge.

© Cara Parker, 2009.  Photos and text may not be reproduced without the written consent of Cara Parker.