Initial Rock
National Register of Historic Places

Initial Rock

Medora, Billings County, North Dakota
Listed
November 7, 1976
Type
Site
Period
Civil War
Ref No.
76002271

About this property

Initial Rock, also known as Name Rock, in the Medora Ranger District of the Little Missouri National Grassland, near Medora, North Dakota, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1976. It was the site of an overnight camp on May 28, 1876 of George Armstrong Custer's men, on their way to the Battle of Little Big Horn, which happened on June 25, 1876. The NRHP listing included one contributing site and one contributing object on 9.9 acres (4.0 ha). Two soldiers, W.C. Williams and F. Neely, carved their names in a rock still present at the site. Williams and Neely, under the command of Marcus Reno, survived the battle. A shelter over the rock has prevented further weathering and vandalism since 1966. It is one of five sites that are included in Custer Military Trail Historic Archaeological District, which is a large historic district that was listed on the NRHP in 2009. These sites are documented as part of a driving tour through the region.

Location

Medora, Billings County, North Dakota
46.80787, -103.41133

Categories

MILITARY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Initial Rock

This page lists Initial Rock. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Initial Rock report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Billings County Courthouse
Civil War
9 mi
Von Hoffman House
Industrial
9 mi
St. Mary's Catholic Church
Industrial
9 mi
De Mores Memorial Park
Civil War
9.1 mi
Chateau de Mores
Industrial
9.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of the Badlands 1864 — Sully's Pursuit
1864Indian Wars
7.7 mi
Battle of the Badlands 1864
1864Indian Wars
7.7 mi
Battle of the Badlands Aug 1864
1864Civil War
7.8 mi
Battle of the Little Missouri 1864
1864Indian Wars
8.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Initial Rock listed on the National Register?

Initial Rock was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1976.

What type of historic resource is Initial Rock?

Initial Rock is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Initial Rock?

The period of significance for Initial Rock is recorded as the civil_war era.

Can I research the history near Initial Rock?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Initial Rock will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Billings County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Billings County.

Explore BillingsCounty ›

More historic places in North Dakota

Browse all historic places in North Dakota.

View North Dakotahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

North Dakota history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

North Dakotahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Initial Rock will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report