National Historic Landmark

Independence Rock

Casper, Natrona County, Wyoming
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
66000757

About this property

Independence Rock is a large granite rock, approximately 130 feet (40 m) high, 1,900 feet (580 m) long, and 850 feet (260 m) wide, which is in southwestern Natrona County, Wyoming, United States, along Wyoming Highway 220. During the middle of the 19th century, it formed a prominent and well-known landmark on the Oregon, Mormon, and California emigrant trails. Many of these emigrants carved their names on it, and it was described by early missionary and explorer Father Pierre-Jean De Smet in 1840 as the Register of the Desert. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark on January 20, 1961 and is now part of Independence Rock State Historic Site, owned and operated by the state of Wyoming.

Location

Casper, Natrona County, Wyoming
42.49505, -107.13149

Categories

EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT
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 Independence Rock

This page lists Independence 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 Independence Rock report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Sun, Tom, Ranch
Industrial
6.3 mi
Martin's Cove
Listed
6.5 mi
Pathfinder Dam
Industrial
14.3 mi
Split Rock, Twin Peaks
Listed
20.3 mi
Bairoil Town Hall
Modern
28 mi

Questions about this property

When was Independence Rock listed on the National Register?

Independence Rock was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Independence Rock?

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

Is Independence Rock a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Independence Rock has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Independence Rock?

The period of significance for Independence Rock is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Independence 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 Independence Rock will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Natrona County

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

Explore NatronaCounty ›

More historic places in Wyoming

Browse all historic places in Wyoming.

View Wyominghistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Wyoming history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Wyominghistory ›

Research the history near this site

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

Research your locationView a free sample report