Last updated: April 25, 2023
Place
Autograph Rock
Photo/NPS
Quick Facts
Location:
Approximately seven miles west and seven miles north of Boise City, Boise City, OK, 73933
Significance:
An important campground for Santa Fe Trail travelers
Designation:
Certified Site, National Register of Historic Places
Amenities
1 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits
Cold Springs Creek is a tributary of the Cimarron River which provided much needed water in the semi-arid plains of what is now called the Oklahoma panhandle. Because of the year-round water access and protection provided by high cliffs, Cold Spring Creek became a popular camping place for people in the area. Archeological evidence suggests that the site was used by indigenous communities, and later by Santa Fe Trail and other travelers.
The sandstone bluffs at the site became a place where people passing through carved their names. Signatures on the walls came from soldiers, teamsters, gold seekers, and others traveling the Santa Fe Trail. Because of the signatures, Cold Springs Creek became known as Autograph Rock. The name F.B. Delgado, who was an owner of a mule and ox train that freighted the trail, is signed more frequently than any other name at Autograph Rock.
Site Information
Location (Approximately seven miles west and seven miles north of Boise City, Boise City, OK, 73933)
Safety Considerations