These three landmarks are west of Alcova, Wyoming and all within ten miles of one another. Each have played an interesting part in geologic and human history.
Independence Rock
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| Independence Rock |
More than 550,000 travelers have passed by Independence Rock on their way westward, mostly during the 19th century. In 1852 alone, an estimated 50,000 pioneers came to this landmark.
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| Sweetwater River Winds through Grasslands |
Approximately 5,000 of them left their names carved into the large granite rock as evidence of their journey. M. K. Hugh in 1824 is one of the earliest signatures.
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| Plaques & Names in the Rock |
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| Closer View |
The 136-foot-high rock was named after an Independence Day celebration by William Sublette and 80 pioneers.
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| Along the Spine of Independence Rock |
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| Names Etched on Top of Independence Rock |
Devil's Gate
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Devil's Gate
(view from overlook) |
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| Closer View |
Devil's Gate is a 370-foot-high, 1,500-foot-long fissure carved over centuries by the Sweetwater River. Travelers came to this major landmark on the Oregon Trail after a tiring four-day trek across the rough, dry landscape from the North Platte River.
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| Red-Tailed Hawk |
Good grass, water, and the shelter of the hills made this a good stopping point. They continued their journey by following the trail over the ridge to the east of Devil's Gate.
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| Female Pronghorn Antelope |
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| Male Pronghorn Antelope |
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| Staring Right at Me |
American Indian legend says a powerful evil spirit in the form of a tremendous beast ravaged the Sweetwater Valley, preventing the Indians from camping and hunting. Indian warriors attacked from the mountain passes and ravines, shooting countless arrows into the evil monster. Enraged, the beast with a mighty upward thrust of its tusks, ripped a gap in the mountain and disappeared through the opening, never to be seen again.
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| Sweetwater River Flows through Devil's Gate |
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| Perspective Shows Depth of Devil's Gate |
Martin's Cove
From 1856 to 1860, 3,000 Mormon emigrants traveled long distances to the Salt Lake Valley. Most were from England, Scotland, Wales, and Denmark. These emigrants were poor and therefore chose to make the journey by foot and handcart because it was more affordable than a wagon and oxen or mules. Pushing a handcart was so physically demanding, each person was limited to a pint of flour a day and 17 pounds of clothing and personal belongings.
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| Part of a Herd of Pronghorn Antelope |
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| Mother and Her Young |
The James G. Willie and Edward Martin handcart companies were the last two parties of 1856. Their 1,000 members started late, were physically weak from short rations, and had been delayed by broken carts, lost cattle, and large number of elderly and children when early winter storms struck.
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| Sweetwater Rocks |
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| Large Rock on Way to Martin's Cove |
After the Willie company became snowbound, rescuers from Salt Lake Valley saved many from starvation and freezing. The same blizzard trapped the Martin company for six days until a relief company was able to guide them westward to the Devil's Gate trading fort. They camped for two days with the majority huddled in tents on the open plain.
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Martin's Cove
(large hill rises in the middle) |
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| Outward View toward Mouth of Cove |
During a break in the storm, they abandoned most of their carts and made their way two miles westward. They tried to escape the fierce winds and near-zero temperatures by moving into a recess in the Sweetwater Rocks only to have storms return and locked them in.
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| Depression between Hill and Sweetwater Rocks on Right Side of Cove |
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| Sweetwater Rocks Circle Left Side of Cove |
Many people died during the five nights and four days the company spent in what became known as Martin's Cove. The survivors eventually were able to proceed westward and finally made it to Salt Lake Valley.
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