,,devils ,,tower ,,national ,,monument ,wyoming ,,united ,,states ,,department ,,of ,,the ,,interior1 ,j4 ,a4 ,krug1 ,secretary ,,national ,,park ,,service1 ,newton ,b4 ,drury1 ,director ,an #hfe-;foot tower of rock1 serving as evidence of volcanic activity that occurred many millions of years ago ,devils ,tower ,national ,monument has the distinction of being the first national monument to be created4 ,it was established by proclamation of ,president ,theodore ,roosevelt in the year #aijf under authority of the so-called ,antiquities ,act4 ,the great natural feature1 ,devils ,tower 7known to the ,sioux ,indian as ,,mateo ,,tepee1 meaning ,grizzly ,bears' ,lodge71 is like a huge fluted monumental shaft set upon a mound1 alongside the ,belle ,fourche ,river and amidst rolling grasslands and pine forests4 ,the ,tower rises to a height of #a1bhj feet from the river bed and some #hfe feet from its apparent base on the hilltop4 ,the diameter at its base is approximately #a1jjj feet1 and at the top averages #bge feet4 ,the top surface embraces about an acre and a half1 upon which mosses1 ferns1 grasses1 shrubs1 and sagebrush grow4 ,mice1 pack rats1 and chipmunks have been seen there1 and the falcon and hawk make it their home4 ,as viewed from various angles1 the ,tower has many shapes4 ,the fresh rock is of a dark grey color which1 after weathering1 bleaches to a light grey with tinges of buff4 ,lichens of various colors and shades grow on its face1 reflecting tones of light1 so that in color its appearance may change several times during the day1 depending on conditions of atmosphere and light4 ,on occasion1 a red sunset may give it a reddish glow1 fading to dull purple4 ,a ,geologic ,mystery ,as to the mode of origin of the ,devils ,tower geologists are by no means in agreement4 ,that the rock of the ,tower was at one time molten and was forced upward from deep within the earth is no question1 and that it cooled beneath the surface is probable4 ,but whether the great shaft as it now stands is in reality hardened lava in the neck of an old volcano the enclosing walls of which have been removed by erosion1 or whether it is part of a great sheet or sill of molten rock which was injected between rock layers1 cannot be positively stated4 ,on the basis of either explanation hundreds of feet of rock have obviously been removed by erosion from around the ,tower and carried by rivers toward the sea4 ,the columns present an interesting problem4 ,they appear to have been produced in the rapidly cooling volcanic rock by regularly arranged cracks which were due to contraction of the cooling mass4 ,the fact that they are not well developed in the base of the ,tower may be due to the slower cooling of the more deeply buried part4 ,the flare of the columns is a subject too involved for this brief account4 ,as to the age of the ,tower it is believed to have been formed early in the ,age of ,mammals1 perhaps #ej million years ago1 but to have been uncovered by erosion only in the last one or two million years4 ,plant and ,animal ,life ,about a half mile from the entrance to ,devils ,tower ,national ,monument the visitor finds himself driving through a thriving prairie dog 8town40 ,these animals were as typical of the original ,west as the buffalo4 ,their presence in towns covering several square miles was incompatible with agriculture1 and the elimination of the species has progressed to the point where they are now rarely found4 ,since all forms of plant and animal life are protected within national monuments1 this colony of prairie dogs gives one a glimpse of the ,old ,west4 ,mule deer may be seen occasionally1 and also many small animals including cottontails and chipmunks4 ,a wide diversity of weather conditions1 soil1 and elevation1 and the location of the monument between the mountains and plains1 produce an interesting and extensive fauna and flora4 ,these factors1 together with interesting geological problems1 afford the student of natural history a wealth of observation and information if he will but take the time to follow not only the trail which encircles the ,devils ,tower proper but the #d miles of nature trail as well4 ,illustration3 ,devils ,tower and the ,belle ,fourche ,river ,illustration3 ,distant view of ,devils ,tower ,illustration3 ,fragments of fallen columns at base of ,devils ,tower ,the ,monument ,museum ,many questions come to those who view ,devils ,tower1 and an effort is made to answer them through exhibits in the museum at the parking area4 ,there1 by use of pictures1 diagrams1 artifacts1 and specimens1 is presented an explanation of some of the features of the ,tower1 its geology1 setting1 history1 and legend4 ,these exhibits1 of interest to the layman and student alike1 are a logical prelude to a walk along the trails4 ,location and ,facilities ,located a little west of the center of ,crook ,county1 which lies in the northeast corner of ,wyoming1 the monument entrance is #g miles northward from ,u4 ,s4 ,highway #ad1 #bi miles northwest of ,sundance1 ,wyo41 and #cc miles northeast of ,moorcroft1 ,wyo4 ,in the days gone by1 because of its inspiring setting1 the area close to the ,tower was a favorite camping and picnicking site1 first by the ,indian and then by the pioneer who braved the rugged and traillike access to the very base of the great rock4 ,not the least inviting feature was the large spring of unusually pure and cold water located but a few feet from the base of the ,tower1 as if flowing from it4 ,in the development of the area1 to afford easy access and more comfort for the hurried vacationist and thoroughgoing student as well1 these salient primitive features are preserved by making the water available at nearly all principal points and by the development of the natural picnic and campground areas within the shadows of the ,tower4 ,adjacent to the area1 as well as within a few miles of it1 are tourist cabins for those wishing overnight lodging1 but who are not equipped to camp4 ,administration ,devils ,tower ,national ,monument1 containing #a1aid acres of federally owned land1 is one of the areas of the ,national ,park ,system owned by the people of the ,united ,states and administered for them by the ,national ,park ,service4 ,in these areas the scenery and the objects of historic1 prehistoric1 and scientific interest are carefully preserved and displayed for public enjoyment4 ,inquiries regarding the monument should be addressed to the ,superintendent1 ,devils ,tower ,national ,monument1 ,devils ,tower1 ,wyo4 ,illustration3 ,,devils ,,tower ,,national ,,monument ,,wyoming ,,devils ,,tower ,,elev4 #eaag ,store ,devils ,tower ,post ,office and ,store ,,belle ,,fourche ,,river ,,entrance ,,station ,,prairie ,,dog ,,colony ,,lookout ,,point ,fossil ,hill ,museum and ,office ,campgrounds ,picnic ,grounds ,,revised ,,apr4 #aidg ,,nm4-,,dt4-#gjja ,j4,j4 ,black1 ,mar4 #aidb4 ,,legend -- - -- ,monument ,boundary ,main ,roads ,secondary ,road - - ,foot ,trails ,illustration3 ,,vicinity ,,map ,,devils ,,tower ,,national ,,monument ,,little ,,missouri ,,buttes ,belle ,fourche ,river ,devils ,tower ,alva ,hullett ,u4 ,s4 ,highway #he ,belle ,fourche ,four ,corners ,spearfish ,,to ,,newcastle ,,to ,,medora1 ,n4 ,,dak4 ,u4 ,s4 ,highway ,a #he ,deadwood ,lead ,,to ,,mt ,,rushmore ,,national ,,memorial ,u4 ,s4 ,highway #ad ,carlile ,moorcroft ,spearfish ,sturgis ,sundance ,,to ,,gillette ,,to ,,rapid ,,city ,u4 ,s4 ,highway #bab ,alzeda ,belle ,fourche ,,to ,,miles ,,city ,u4 ,s4 ,highway #af ,upton ,,legend ,oiled ,roads ---- ,secondary ,roads ,three miles of oil-surfaced road leads from the entrance on the east to the parking area1 museum1 ,tower trail1 and picnic areas and campgrounds4 ,a permit fee of #ej cents for each automobile1 motorcycle1 and house trailer is collected at the monument entrance4 ,this permit remains good throughout the entire calendar year in which it is purchased4 ,all rock1 plants1 and animals on the monument are protected and must not be disturbed or harmed4 ,help keep the grounds clean by using the fireplaces and refuse receptacles4 ,camping1 picnicking1 and parking are limited to areas so designated4 ,u4 ,s4 ,,government ,,printing ,,office3 #aidi ,o-,f--#hcdgdf ,transcriber's ,notes --,this e,book is based on a ,u4,s4 government publication which is public domain in the ,united ,states4 --,corrected a few palpable typos4 --,within the map1 transcribed labels1 and added italicized text where needed to define the context4 --,in the text versions only1 text in italics is delimited by underscores4