Near Shell in Big Horn County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
Copman's Tomb
Photographed By Duane Hall, July 31, 2010
1. Copman's Tomb Marker
The red cliff face to your left flanks Sunlight Mesa. At the top is Elephant Head Rock, so named because of its shape. The triangle-shaped mountain to the right is named Pyramid Peak. To your far right is a prominent rock-topped mountain called Copman's Tomb. Copman's Tomb is named after Wolfgang R. Copman, a pioneer who was fascinated by the Canyon's splendor, and asked that his ashes be scattered over the mountain when he died.At the bottom of Shell Canyon, Shell Creek flows as it has for the last million years, continuing to cut through these sedimentary and igneous rocks, deepening the Canyon. Shell Canyon was formed by this gradual process of stream erosion, cutting through layers of limestone, siltstone, shale, dolomite, and granite. The rolling landscape at the base of the cliffs was formed by slumping, the mass movement of soil and rocks from the cliffs into the valley.
Erected by Bighorn National Forest.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.
Location. 44° 34.815′ N,
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Beef Trail (here, next to this marker); Bighorn Basin – Its History (approx. 1.1 miles away); Wildfire! (approx. 1˝ miles away); Carving a Course (approx. 2.9 miles away); Lifeblood of the West (approx. 2.9 miles away); Oasis in the Desert (approx. 2.9 miles away); Hummingbirds (approx. 2.9 miles away); Shaping a Canyon (approx. 2.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shell.
More about this marker. The illustrative drawing on the marker was done by Connie J. Robinson in 1989.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 24, 2015
2. Copman's Tomb Marker
Copman's Tomb can be seen behind the marker on the right.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 24, 2015
3. Marker in Bighorn National Forest
Photographed By Duane Hall, July 31, 2010
4. Copman's Tomb
Photographed By Duane Hall, July 31, 2010
5. Elephant Head Rock, Sunlight Mesa, and Pyramid Peak
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,122 times since then and 231 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 29, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on September 4, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4, 5. submitted on September 29, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.
