The Great Register of the Desert

Leaving for Loveland, CO today
Will spend a few weeks in Colorado and then on to New Mexico


I know I wrote that we weren't doing any touring while in Rawlins, but we found another highlight of the Oregon Trail that we couldn't pass up.  It was only an hour from our campsite, so we took a break from cleaning and organizing to wander off - again.

Independence Rock was considered the halfway point for pioneers traveling the Oregon Trail.   Travelers wanted to reach this point by Independence Day to ensure they could cross the mountains and arrive at their destination before the first snow.  We learned again what an arduous and dangerous journey it was; thousands died primarily from illness and disease.  Some are buried here at Independence Rock.

Between 1843 and 1869 almost 500,000 emigrants stopped at Independence Rock.  Thousands of them inscribed their name directly on the Rock.  Fr. Pierre-Jean de Smet christened the Rock "The Great Register of the Desert" when he saw it in 1841.
Some chiseled their name in stone.  This one is dated 1890.

Some wrote it on the Rock using grease from their wagon wheels.

This marking appears to be from a member of Company F of the 6th Cavalry.  It is not dated.

We saw hundreds of names and hundreds more have faded over time.   We were reminded again of the bravery of these folks as they settled the West.
On a lighter note, I saw a posting on a bulletin board at Independence Rock stating that covered wagons were the mobile homes (and I would add motor homes) of yesteryear.  Absolutely!