Devils Tower

A Serendipitous 4th of July Stop at Devils Tower

July 4th Road Trip to Mount Rushmore

As we were making our way toward Mount Rushmore to celebrate the 4th of July, we found ourselves driving by the striking Black Hills of Wyoming— a sight beautiful enough to slow anyone down. That’s when we noticed the signs for Devils Tower, and found ourselves asking: “Should we go see it?”

The answer quickly became yes. And what a fantastic decision that turned out to be.

We pulled off for what was meant to be a side trip, but ended up uncovering a piece of American history that felt deeply fitting for Independence Day.

🇺🇸 Devils Tower: America’s First National Monument

As we approached, I remembered reading that President Theodore Roosevelt declared Devils Tower a national monument in 1906, and I wanted to fact-check that. Turns out it’s 100% true. On September 24, 1906, Roosevelt used the newly passed Antiquities Act to protect the tower and the surrounding 1,347 acres — making it officially the first national monument in U.S. history.

Even more ironically patriotic? On July 4th, 1893, local rancher William Rogers made the first recorded climb to the summit using a wooden stake ladder. He had intended to plant an American flag at the top — only to discover someone had beat him to it the day before! That moment sparked a tradition: ever since that day, local families began gathering at Devils Tower on the 4th of July for reunions and patriotic picnics. For some, it was the only time they'd see each other all year.

It felt kind of magical to stumble upon this place on the exact same date — over 130 years later — just by chance.

🌋 How Did It Get There?

Looking at Devils Tower, my first thought was that it looked like a gigantic tree trunk that had been chopped off. But geologically, it’s even more fascinating.

Despite its towering height and rugged form, it’s not a volcano. Devils Tower is actually an igneous intrusion — magma that pushed up from deep underground and cooled before it ever reached the surface. Over millions of years, the softer rock around it eroded away, leaving behind the massive columned formation we see today. Those beautiful hexagonal patterns? That’s how some types of lava cool and crack — perfectly natural geometry.

🐾 Prairie Dog Bonus Round

As if the history and geology weren’t enough, we also stumbled across one of the cutest surprises at the base: a prairie dog town! These little guys were popping up like a real-life whack-a-mole game — only we were just there to take pictures, not play. They were busy, chirpy, and absolutely delightful, adding a playful energy to an already perfect day.

The weather was spot-on too — 72°F, cloudy but dry — ideal for wandering around, soaking up the views, and snapping a few memorable photos.

🚗 We Didn’t Make It to the Top — And That’s Okay

While we didn’t make it all the way to the visitor parking at the top — the road was completely backed up and traffic wasn’t moving — it didn’t matter. Just seeing Devils Tower from below, standing boldly against the cloudy sky, felt powerful and grounding. We knew we still had a special destination ahead and wanted to make it to Mount Rushmore in time for the evening’s patriotic light show and reenactment.

🎇 Onward to Mount Rushmore

Now we’re back on the road, heading east toward the grand finale — the majestic faces of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt, carved into stone as a tribute to American ideals. It’s a full-circle moment: Roosevelt, the man who created national monuments, will now be waiting for us in granite.

As 4th of July celebrations go, we couldn’t have planned this better if we tried. From surprise prairie dogs to serendipitous historical stops, it’s one of those days we’ll always remember — full of meaning, nature, and a little bit of road trip magic.