Devils Tower in Crook County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

Reach for the Top

Photographed By James Hulse, June 13, 2022

1. Reach for the Top Marker

Inscription. All climbers have a reason. The first climbers on record to summit Devils Tower, Willard Ripley and William Rogers, faced a bleak year on the ranch. Money was scarce, but Rogers had an idea. As Rogers gathered materials, Ripley built a ladder that snaked all the way to the summit by 1893. Then, Rogers advertised the climb as a Fourth of July spectacle. As revelers paid admission to dance and picnic, Rogers donned an Uncle Sam costume. The American Flag whipped in the wind as he climbed the ladder for the crowd. Over time, many followed the historic ascent.

Captions
Middle Right: With binoculars, you can spot the remnants of the 350 foot ladder wedged into a crack of the Tower. The tactile at right represents a 35-foot (10-m) section of the ladder.
Lower Left: On July 4, 1895, Linnie Rogers became the first woman on record to climb Devils Tower. She scaled the ladder built by her husband, William.

Portraits
Center: Willard Ripley
Center Right: William Rogers

Erected by Devils Tower National Monument - National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1893.

Location.

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44° 35.369′ N, 104° 42.878′ W. Marker is in Devils Tower, Wyoming, in Crook County. Marker can be reached from Devils Tower National Monument Road (State Highway 110) 3½ miles west of State Highway 24. The marker is located along the Tower Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 340 WY-110, Devils Tower WY 82714, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Many Meanings for Many People (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Daredevil Stunt (about 300 feet away); Bountiful Land (about 600 feet away); People of the Land (about 800 feet away); Buried Tower (approx. 0.2 miles away); How Did the Tower Form? (approx. 0.2 miles away); Friends, Family, and Fun (approx. ¼ mile away); Devils Tower ... the first National Monument (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Devils Tower.

More about this marker. The marker is located on the grounds of the Devil's Tower National Park which requires a small entrance fee to access.

Also see . . .
1. Devils Tower National Monument. (Submitted on July 22, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
2. Rogers & Ripley Stake Ladder. Devils Tower National Monument

In 1890, a local rancher named Bill Rogers boasted to his brother-in-law, "I'll be on top of the
Photographed By James Hulse, June 13, 2022

2. Reach for the Top Marker
Tower before three years." Like most people with good sense, his brother thought Rogers sure to meet his demise in the undertaking. Rogers, however, was not to be underestimated.

(Submitted on July 22, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The view of the Reach for the Top Marker from the Tower Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, June 13, 2022

3. The view of the Reach for the Top Marker from the Tower Trail

The view of the Devil’s Tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, June 13, 2022

4. The view of the Devil’s Tower

Credits. This page was last revised on July 22, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 133 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 22, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.