Near Ekalaka in Carter County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
A Fantastically Beautiful Place: The Medicine Rocks
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 12, 2020
1. A Fantastically Beautiful Place: The Medicine Rocks Marker
Inscription.
A Fantastically Beautiful Place: The Medicine Rocks. . Medicine Rocks State Park was once a sea of sand dunes. About 61 million years ago during the Tertiary Era, a large freshwater river deposited fine-grained sands along its shores. From there, coastal winds blew the sand into dunes that eventually compacted into soft sandstone. That soft rock was especially susceptible to wind erosion, which caused hollowed out hols in the face of the rock. The Medicine Rocks exhibit crossbedding, where thin layers of sandstone lie at angles with thick sandstone beds. For millions of years, the wind has sculpted the soft sandstone into many strange and bizarre shapes that like shifting clouds, almost overwhelm the imagination in their complexity and ability to inspire wonder. Native Americans early recognized the distinctiveness of the Medicine Rocks. They used the area as a vision quest site, meeting place, shelter, and as a lookout to spot enemies and bison. A Lakota named Charging Bear called the rocks a place "where the spirits stayed and medicine men played." Like the Native Americans before them, non-Indian settlers also recognized the uniqueness of Medicine Rocks as a place to gather and enjoy on of Montana's geologic wonders.
Medicine Rocks State Park was once a sea of sand dunes. About 61 million years ago during the Tertiary Era, a large freshwater river deposited fine-grained sands along its shores. From there, coastal winds blew the sand into dunes that eventually compacted into soft sandstone. That soft rock was especially susceptible to wind erosion, which caused hollowed out hols in the face of the rock. The Medicine Rocks exhibit crossbedding, where thin layers of sandstone lie at angles with thick sandstone beds. For millions of years, the wind has sculpted the soft sandstone into many strange and bizarre shapes that like shifting clouds, almost overwhelm the imagination in their complexity and ability to inspire wonder. Native Americans early recognized the distinctiveness of the Medicine Rocks. They used the area as a vision quest site, meeting place, shelter, and as a lookout to spot enemies and bison. A Lakota named Charging Bear called the rocks a place "where the spirits stayed and medicine men played." Like the Native Americans before them, non-Indian settlers also recognized the uniqueness of Medicine Rocks as a place to gather and enjoy on of Montana's geologic wonders.
Erected by Montana Department of Transportation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans
Location. 46° 2.741′ N, 104° 27.495′ W. Marker is near Ekalaka, Montana, in Carter County. Marker is on Park Entrance Road near State Highway 7, on the right when traveling east. The marker is about 11 miles north of Ekalaka. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ekalaka MT 59324, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 12, 2020
2. A Fantastically Beautiful Place: The Medicine Rocks Marker
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 12, 2020
3. Medicine Rocks
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 12, 2020
4. Medicine Rocks
Credits. This page was last revised on January 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 180 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 9, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.