Pioneer History Celebrated

Date: May 22, 2015
Contact: Nancy Stimson, 307 467 5283

Area residents will celebrate history at the Old Settlers' Picnic on Sunday, June 7. The festivities will begin at 12:30 pm in the picnic area at Devils Tower National Monument. There will be free entrance into the monument
for those attending the event.

Each year the Old Settlers' Picnic honors distinguished members of the community. This year's honorees are Mary French, Mary Garman, Dick and Rose Zella Proctor and Minnie Williams. Enjoy the poetry of Pat Frolander and the music of Cindy Witt. Bring a picnic lunch, beverage and a lawn chair, and enjoy a good, old-fashioned visit with family and friends. There will also be free cake and ice cream, games for the children, and displays from the Crook County Museum.

Pioneer gatherings at the Tower started in the 1890s. The gatherings became known as the Old Settlers' Picnic. Over 4,000 people attended the picnic in 1934.The men and women who settled the towns and ranches in the area were known as the Old Settlers.They drove cattle on the trails and fought the bitter cold winters and the summer heat. The Old Settlers' Picnic is a chance for the communities near the Tower to say "thank you" to their founders.

Sponsors include the Devils Tower Natural History Association, Crook County Promotion Board, Powder River Energy Corporation, Pine Haven Chamber of Commerce, Neiman Sawmill, inc., RT Communications, Devils Tower KOA Campground, Devils Tower Trading Post, Devils Tower View Restaurant and Campground, and the Devils Tower National Monument.

To learn more about Devils Tower National Monument, contact 307-467-5283, visit us online at  www.nps.gov/deto or www.facebook.com/Devils-Tower-National-Monument-Official-NPS-Site.

~NPS~