Chimney Rock National Historic Site
Encyclopedia
Chimney Rock is a prominent geological rock formation
in Morrill County
in western Nebraska
. Rising nearly 300 feet (91 m) above the surrounding North Platte River
valley, the peak of Chimney Rock is 4226 feet (1,288.1 m) above sea level. During the middle 19th century it served as a landmark
along the Oregon Trail
, the California Trail
, and the Mormon Trail
, which ran along the north side of the rock. It is visible for many miles from the east along U.S. Route 26
.
. Pilcher had journeyed up the Platte River valley to the Salt Lake rendezvous of the Rocky Mountain fur trappers. The first non-natives to see the pillar were probably the Astorians of Robert Stuart
in their eastern journey from the Pacific Ocean in 1813. This marker of the plains was recorded in many journals after this time.
Based on sketches, paintings, written accounts, and the 1897 photograph by Darton, Chimney Rock was taller when it was first seen by settlers, but has been reduced in height since then by erosion
and lightning
. In 1992 a lightning strike that caused part of the rock to tumble off of the spire was recorded by a tourist's video camera
.
on August 9, 1956 and is today administered as an affiliated area by the National Park Service
in cooperation with the Nebraska State Historical Society
. Chimney Rock and Independence Rock
further west are probably the most famous features along the Oregon Trail.
The Visitor Center features museum exhibits and a video about pioneers and the migrations in the West, as well as a gift shop.
On March 1, 2006, the Nebraska State Quarter was released. The quarter features a covered wagon headed west past Chimney Rock, memorializing Nebraska's role in westward migration.
Rock formations in the United States
The following is a partial list of rock formations in the United States, by state:-Arizona:*Canyon de Chelly National Monument**Spider Rock*Chiricahua National Monument**Duck on a Rock**Organ Pipe**Mushroom Rock**Sea Captain*Monument Valley...
in Morrill County
Morrill County, Nebraska
-History:Morrill County was formed in 1908 "carved out of Cheyenne County". It was named after Charles Henry Morrill, a president of the Lincoln Land Company.-Demographics:...
in western Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. Rising nearly 300 feet (91 m) above the surrounding North Platte River
North Platte River
The North Platte River is a major tributary of the Platte River and is approximately long counting its many curves, It travels about distance. Its course lies in the U.S...
valley, the peak of Chimney Rock is 4226 feet (1,288.1 m) above sea level. During the middle 19th century it served as a landmark
Landmark
This is a list of landmarks around the world.Landmarks may be split into two categories - natural phenomena and man-made features, like buildings, bridges, statues, public squares and so forth...
along the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
, the California Trail
California Trail
The California Trail was an emigrant trail of about across the western half of the North American continent from Missouri River towns to what is now the state of California...
, and the Mormon Trail
Mormon Trail
The Mormon Trail or Mormon Pioneer Trail is the 1,300 mile route that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints traveled from 1846 to 1868...
, which ran along the north side of the rock. It is visible for many miles from the east along U.S. Route 26
U.S. Route 26
U.S. Route 26 is an east–west United States highway. It started in Ogallala, Nebraska, and gradually grew to reach the West Coast in Oregon. When the U.S. highway system was first defined, it was limited to Nebraska and Wyoming; by the 1950s, it continued into Idaho and Oregon. The...
.
History of Chimney Rock
The first recorded mention of 'Chimney Rock' was in 1827 by Joshua PilcherJoshua Pilcher
Joshua Pilcher was an American fur trader and Indian agent. After Manuel Lisa's death in 1820, Pilcher became the owner and president of the Missouri Fur Company, based in St. Louis...
. Pilcher had journeyed up the Platte River valley to the Salt Lake rendezvous of the Rocky Mountain fur trappers. The first non-natives to see the pillar were probably the Astorians of Robert Stuart
Robert Stuart (explorer)
Robert Stuart was the son of Charles Stuart, a partner of John Jacob Astor who as one of the North West Company men, or Nor'westers, enlisted by Astor to help him found his intended fur empire...
in their eastern journey from the Pacific Ocean in 1813. This marker of the plains was recorded in many journals after this time.
Based on sketches, paintings, written accounts, and the 1897 photograph by Darton, Chimney Rock was taller when it was first seen by settlers, but has been reduced in height since then by erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
and lightning
Lightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
. In 1992 a lightning strike that caused part of the rock to tumble off of the spire was recorded by a tourist's video camera
Video camera
A video camera is a camera used for electronic motion picture acquisition, initially developed by the television industry but now common in other applications as well. The earliest video cameras were those of John Logie Baird, based on the electromechanical Nipkow disk and used by the BBC in...
.
Geology
The pillar consists primarily of Brule clay interlayered with volcanic ash and Arikaree sandstone. The harder sandstone layers near the top have protected the pillar since it broke away from the retreating cliff line to the south. Chimney Rock rises approximately 286 feet (87.2 m) above its surroundings.Today
Chimney Rock was designated a National Historic SiteNational Historic Sites (United States)
National Historic Sites are protected areas of national historic significance in the United States. A National Historic Site usually contains a single historical feature directly associated with its subject...
on August 9, 1956 and is today administered as an affiliated area by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
in cooperation with the Nebraska State Historical Society
Nebraska State Historical Society
The Nebraska State Historical Society is a Nebraska state agency, founded in 1878 to "encourage historical research and inquiry, spread historical information .....
. Chimney Rock and Independence Rock
Independence Rock (Wyoming)
Independence Rock is a large granite rock, approximately high, in southwestern Natrona County in the U.S. state of Wyoming, along Wyoming Highway 220. During the middle of the 19th century, the rock was a prominent and well-known landmark on the Oregon, Mormon and California emigrant trails. It...
further west are probably the most famous features along the Oregon Trail.
The Visitor Center features museum exhibits and a video about pioneers and the migrations in the West, as well as a gift shop.
On March 1, 2006, the Nebraska State Quarter was released. The quarter features a covered wagon headed west past Chimney Rock, memorializing Nebraska's role in westward migration.
See also
- Landmarks of the Nebraska TerritoryLandmarks of the Nebraska TerritoryLandmarks of the Nebraska Territory were important to settlers on the Oregon, California and Mormon trails. While the majority of the landmarks were close to the Platte River, others were spread across the state.-The trails:...
- Courthouse and Jail RocksCourthouse and Jail RocksCourthouse and Jail Rocks are two rock formations located near Bridgeport, Nebraska.The Oregon-California Trail, the Mormon Trail, the Pony Express Trail and the Sidney-Deadwood Trail all ran near the rocks. The pair of rock formations served as a landmark along the trails for many pioneers...
- Scotts Bluff National MonumentScotts Bluff National MonumentScotts Bluff National Monument in western Nebraska includes an important 19th century landmark on the Oregon Trail and Mormon Trail. The National Monument contains multiple bluffs located on the south side of the North Platte River; it is named for one prominent bluff called Scotts Bluff, which...
- ButteButteA butte is a conspicuous isolated hill with steep, often vertical sides and a small, relatively flat top; it is smaller than mesas, plateaus, and table landform tables. In some regions, such as the north central and northwestern United States, the word is used for any hill...
- Nebraska SandhillsSand Hills (Nebraska)The Sand Hills, often written Sandhills, is a region of mixed-grass prairie on grass-stabilized sand dunes in north-central Nebraska, covering just over one quarter of the state...
External links
- National Park Service Chimney Rock site
- Chimney Rock National Historic Site operated by the Nebraska State Historical SocietyNebraska State Historical SocietyThe Nebraska State Historical Society is a Nebraska state agency, founded in 1878 to "encourage historical research and inquiry, spread historical information .....
- US Mint 50 State Quarters Program: Nebraska State Quarter