Independence Rock

Independence Rock. . , Probably discovered by returning Astorians, 1812. Given its name by emigrants who celebrated Independence Day here July 4, 1825. Capt. Bonneville passed here with first wagons 1832. Whitman and Spalding, missionaries with their wives stopped here 1836. Father DeSmet saw it and owing to many names upon it called it "Register of the Desert" 1840. Gen. John C. Fremont camped here with U.S. Army Aug. 2, 1842. It is the most famous landmark on the , Old Oregon Trail. . , (inscribed below the marker) , This tablet presented and placed by Henry D. Schoonmaker, 1920. , (This marker mounted at the north end of Independence Rock as is surrounded by memorial plaques honoring pioneers who traveled the Oregon, California, Mormon Pioneer Trails. They are present below; top to bottom and left to right:) , Ezra Meeker , Pioneer , 1830 - 1928 . , To , Narcissa Prentiss Whitman , and , Eliza Hart Spalding, , Missionaries. , First white woman in Wyoming , and , first woman over Oregon Trail , 1836 , Placed July 4, 1936, by , The Historical Landmark Commission of Wyoming .. , The first Lodge of Masons in what is now the State of Wyoming was convened on Independence Rock July 4, 1862, by a body of Master Masons who were traveling west on the Old Oregon Trail. To commemorate this event Casper Lodge No. 15 A.F. and A.M. of Casper, Wyoming, held memorial services here on July 4, 1920.. , (inscribed below) , C.H. Townsend . M.P Wheeler . H. Banner . A.C. Mokler . B.B. Brooks . W.C. Wilson . ?.A. Reed . E.L. Hambright . C. Anda) . , In memory of , Father P. J. DeSmet S.J. , 1840 , who named this rock , "The Register of the Desert." , Dedicated July 4, 1930 , by Wyoming Knights of Columbus.. , In honor of , The "Mormon" Pioneers , who passed Independence Rock , June 21, 1847 , Under the leadership of , Brigham Young , on their way to the Valley of the , Great Salt Lake , and of more than 80,000 'Mormon' emigrants who followed by ox teams, hand carts and other means of travel, seeking religious liberty and economic independence. , Erected June 21, 1931, by descendants and followers of the pioneers who have made the desert bloom as the rose. . , In memory of Jason Lee , the Trail Blazer of Methodism , in the Northwest. , 1834-1844. , In Memory of , Dr. Grace Raymond Hebard , 1861 - 1956 , Wyoming Historian - Author - Educator , Erected by Colonial Dames resident , in the State of Wyoming. , In Memory of , Anderson Deckard , and Party , Who camped here , July 4, 1853 , Settled near Albany, Oregon , Erected by his descendants , 1954.