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In the Black Hills of northeastern Wyoming there’s a volcanic neck known as Devils Tower that sees visitors from all over.

The Legend of Devils Tower - ICT Skip to main contentNewsNewscastsCoronavirusClassifiedsOutsidePress PoolOpinionLifestyleEventsObituariesNewslettersAbout UsDonate TodayPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseAbout UsPrivacy SettingsPrivacy SettingsJanuary 5, 2023NewsNewscastsCoronavirusClassifiedsOutsidePress PoolOpinionDonateDonateNewsNewscastsCoronavirusClassifiedsOutsidePress PoolOpinionDonateDonateThe Legend of Devils TowerIn the Black Hills of northeastern Wyoming there's a volcanic neck known as Devils Tower that sees visitors from all over.Author:ICT StaffUpdated:Sep 13, 2018Original:Feb 6, 2017In the Black Hills of northeastern Wyoming there's a volcanic neck known as Devils Tower that sees visitors from all over.Devils Tower, also known as Mato Tipila, which means "Bear Lodge" in Lakota, is a volcanic neck that rises 1,267 feet from the Black Hills in northeastern Wyoming. It was the very first national monument in the United States, bestowed that designation by Teddy Roosevelt on September 24th, 1906. In recent years around one percent of the 400,000 annual visitors actually climbs the tower. We'll get to how you do that in a later article. Long before the tower was being recognized by the American government, Native tribes had geographical and cultural connections to it. They called it everything from 'Aloft on a Rock' (Kiowa) to 'Grizzly Bear Lodge' (Lakota). It wasn't given its demonic name until Col. Richard Irving Dodge led an expedition through Wyoming in 1875. His interpreter botched the translation, calling it 'Bad God's Tower', which was eventually shortened to Devils Tower. There are two great legends regarding the tower and the unusual looking columns that bear a striking resemblance to claw marks. It's no surprise that both the stories, from the Lakota Sioux and the Kiowa, involve a similar narrative. In the Lakota Sioux legend, six girls were out picking flowers when they were attacked and chased by bears. The Great Spirit felt bad for them, and raised the ground beneath their feet. The bears gave chase and attempted to climb the newly formed tower, but they couldn't get to the top. The bears fell off, clawing the sides of the monolith.Scroll to ContinueRead More10 Fashion Faux Pas to Avoid at a Pow WowTwo Spirits, One Heart, Five GendersActor, ‘Medicine Man’ Chasing Horse Banished From Fort Peck The Kiowa legend follows a similar storyline but includes astrology as well. Seven little Kiowa girls were out playing, spotted by several giant bears, and were chased. The girls prayed to the Great Spirit, and sure enough the ground rose beneath them towards the Heavens. The bears tried to climb the rock but only managed to leave their deep claw marks on the sides. The girls reached the sky and were turned into the constellation Pleiades.This story was originally published December 15, 2010.Tagsterms:ArchivedIndian Country Today is a nonprofit news organization. Will you support our work?All of our content is free. There are no subscriptions or costs. And we have hired more Native journalists in the past year than any news organization ─ and with your help we will continue to grow and create career paths for our people. Support Indian Country Today for as little as $10.Donate TodayNewsThe Wrap: Ribbon Skirt DayBy ICT6 hours agoNewsAt the Supreme Court, it's taking longer to hear casesBy The Associated Press6 hours agoOutsideCalifornia prepares for flooding; Midwest hit with snow, iceBy Associated Press6 hours agoNewsBrazil’s new president prioritizes Indigenous communitiesBy Kalle Benallie7 hours agoOutsideBest of CES 2023: Electric skates, pet tech and AI for birdsBy Associated Press8 hours agoNewscastsEnvironmental group sees changeBy ICT8 hours agoNewsA battle is on to limit permafrost thaw damageBy Alaska Beacon8 hours agoPress PoolNew Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham, Attorney General Balderas, Environment... Secretary Kenney and Trustee Hart Stebbins announce settlement with final contractors in Gold King Mine LitigationBy Press Pool11 hours agoOutsidePhoenix led the nation in inflation in 2022, but rise may slow in 2023By Cronkite News11 hours agoLoading…See MorePrivacy PolicyTerms of UseAbout UsPrivacy Settings© 2023CLOSECLOSECLOSECLOSE