Devils Tower, the first national monument in the United States, is a site of immense geological and cultural significance. Its beautiful natural formation not only offers scientists valuable insights into Earth’s geological history but also holds deep cultural importance for Native American tribes in the region. Steeped in legend and surrounded by folklore, Devils Tower continues to captivate visitors with its unique beauty and the stories that have shaped its history.
Formation of Devils Tower
The formation of Devils Tower is somewhat mysterious in how it exactly came to be. What is agreed upon is that the tower began as molten rock beneath the earth, it is how that magma rose and solidified that stems the debates. The most popular theory is that the tower formed from magma that pushed its way up through layers of softer rock underground but never erupted. As the magma cooled, it hardened into the tower’s column-like shape. Over millions of years, wind and water eroded the softer rock around it, leaving the tough, resistant rock standing alone.
Another theory is that the tower formed through a laccolith which is magma pushing the layers of rock above it upward like a dome but doesn’t break through the surface. The idea is this happened to form the tower and it cooled and hardened underground, and over time, the surrounding softer rock wore away, revealing the tower.
A third theory is that the magma made its way to the surface through volcanic vents, but cooled while still in the neck of the volcano, then the outer rock of the volcano eroded away leaving behind what we know as Devils Tower.
Folklore
There are many folktales surrounding the tower, which used to be known as Bear Lodge. In fact the current name comes from a misinterpretation of Bear Lodge when a member of a scientific expedition thought it meant Bad Spirit Tower. The story of the tower is that two young girls were playing out in the wilderness when they were attacked by a giant bear. They managed to run from the bear and climb onto a big rock, however the rock was not large enough to hide from the bear so the great spirit caused the rock to grow high enough. The bear pawed and scratched at the rock forming the columns in the tower we know today. While there are many variations of the story they mostly all involve people seeking refuge from a giant bear and the spirits causing the rock to grow becoming the tower.
Becoming the first national monument
Devils tower became the first national monument in September of 1906. Its unique geological features caused people to want to protect it though it was too small to be a national park and there was a lack of interest from congress. There was still a big push to protect the land in some way. In 1906 the Antiquities Act was passed which allowed for the president to set aside “objects of historic or scientific interest”. President Theodore Roosevelt used this act to make Devils Tower the first national monument.
Since becoming a national monument in 1906 Devils Tower has been one of the most visited and beloved landmarks in the United States. It provides rich culture as well as recreational opportunities for millions of people every year.