🗻 Devils Tower

About This Sacred Site

Devils Tower (known as Bear Lodge or Mato Tipila to the Lakota) is an extraordinary geological formation that rises 867 feet above the Belle Fourche River in northeastern Wyoming. Sacred to over 20 Native American tribes including the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Kiowa, each tribe has its own creation story for the tower — most involving a great bear clawing the sides as children escape to the sky. Prayer bundles and offerings are regularly left at the base, and Native ceremonies are conducted throughout the year. It was the first United States National Monument, designated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. A voluntary climbing ban during June respects Native ceremonies.

History & Origins

Devils Tower, rising 867 feet above the Belle Fourche River in northeastern Wyoming, is a unique igneous rock formation designated the United States' first National Monument in 1906. Known as Mato Tipila or Bear Lodge to the Lakota and other Indigenous peoples, it holds profound spiritual significance as a sacred site for ceremonies and vision quests. Oral traditions recount its creation involving bears clawing the rock's sides. The tower's geological origin dates back millions of years, but its cultural importance endures. Modern stewardship balances preservation with Indigenous access and public education.

Spiritual Significance

Rising 867 feet above the surrounding landscape in northeastern Wyoming, this geological formation is sacred to over 20 Native American tribes, including the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Kiowa, each possessing unique creation stories involving the tower's origin. The site was designated the first United States National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, recognizing both its natural and cultural significance. Indigenous rituals performed here include prayer offerings, vision quests, and the ceremonial Blessing of the Sacred Poles, which are placed in the crevices of the tower as acts of devotion. The Lakota oral tradition recounts that the tower was formed when a giant bear clawed the earth, creating the vertical columns seen today, symbolizing protection and spiritual strength. Annual gatherings coincide with the summer solstice, during which tribal elders lead songs and dances honoring the Great Spirit and reinforcing communal bonds.

Key Facts

• •Sacred to over 20 Native American tribes, each with unique creation stories
• •First United States National Monument, designated in 1906 by Theodore Roosevelt
• •Rises 867 feet (264 meters) above the surrounding terrain
• •A voluntary climbing ban in June respects Native American ceremonial practices
• •Featured in the 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Location

Coordinates: 44.5902, -104.7147