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Devils Tower National Monument
History & Culture
 
  • The First 50 Years
    In 1956, Devils Tower National Monument celebrated its 50th birthday. A Park Service historian used that occasion to record a history of Devils Tower. A big event occured in 1941 when a parachutist landed safely on top of the Tower. Getting off the Tower was the problem. (The document is rather long - CLICK for a text only -- printer friendly -- version.)

  • Climbing Lore - Learn about the first technical climb of Devils Tower. Also, read an account of the first all-woman technical ascent of the Tower. And, how do they get up there anyhow?

  • Devils Tower — Sacred to Plains Tribes
    A review of the ethnographic literature demonstrates that Devils Tower was a sacred area for several Plains Tribes, and that it is considered an important landmark in tribal narratives.

  • First Stories — In Their Own Words
    In the 1930's, the importance of Devils Tower to many Plains Indians was recorded in first person narratives.
Black tailed prairie dog  

Did You Know?
Eradication programs have reduced the black-tailed prairie dog’s range from thousands of square miles to a few scattered preserves like this one at Devils Tower National Monument. They now inhabit about 2% of the area they once occupied 200 years ago.

Last Updated: June 04, 2007 at 17:34 EST