Feel the awe and curiosity the pioneers experienced when they saw the most famous landmark on the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails.
Designated as a National Historic Site on August 9, 1956, Chimney Rock.
Chimney Rock has become one of the most famous landmarks in the American West. The first recorded mention of Chimney Rock was in 1827 by Joshua Pilcher. He journeyed up the Platte River valley to the Salt Lake rendezvous of the Rocky Mountain fur trappers. The first non-natives to see the pillar were probably the Astorians of Robert Stuart in their eastern journey from the Pacific Ocean in 1813.
In 1941, 80 acres containing the site, near the town of Bayard, Nebraska, were transferred to the Nebraska State Historical Society by the Roszel F. Durnal family. In 1956, Norman and Donna Brown deeded additional land to the society. In that same year, Chimney Rock was designated a National Historic Site by the federal government.
During 1800’s, Chimney Rock served as the most noted landmark along the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails. As the emigrants passed by this rock, most of them noted in their diaries or journals that they “were glad to see that they are going the right direction” and it “spired to the heavens”. So intrigued were the emigrants that thousands climbed up the cone to carve their names on the tower. Though no inscriptions are known to survive today, there is ample written testimony that thousands of names once adorned the rock.
The United States Geological Survey calculated the elevation of Chimney Rock in 1895 as 4,225 feet above sea level.
The spire has lost about 30 feet in the last 150 years. Today, it’s summit rises 470 feet above the North Platte River and measures 325 feet tip to base, with the spire measuring 120 feet.
During the time of the western migration, Chimney Rock was substantially higher. Natural weathering, erosion, and lightning have cut down its height over the years, although the exact amount is disputed.
Throughout the years, Chimney Rock has been called by many different names.
- The Chimney by the fur trappers
- Nose Mountain by Warren Ferris- American Fur Trading Company
- The Smokestack by Virgil Pringle
- The Teepee by Native Americans
- Wigwam by Native Americans
Park personnel are requesting those who want to do any hiking to please stay on the path.
Virtual Cache Requirements
This is a Virtual Cache, so there is no container to find; no log to sign. Instead, there is one question to answer AND one task to perform, to prove that you visited the area.
Please email (please do NOT send answer using the message center) to the Virtual Cache Owner Your answer to this following question: What name is on the south side of the headstone?
Take a photo of Chimney Rock. Face photos are not required but allowed if you choose. If you do not want your face in the photo you can have a photo of your GPS or a Sheet of paper with your geocaching name and the date written on it. Logs without the verification photo will be deleted. Post the photo with your log. Do not reveal the answer to the question in your log.
Background photo credit to Sharon Henderson
Placed By Nebraskache Members
As the geocache owner, I ensure that this links to a local geocaching group that is active in the community and contributing to geocaching in positive ways. This link has not been checked by Geocaching HQ or by the reviewer.
First to find on this cache will recieve a 2008 Nebraskache Chimney Rock Geocoin
Congratulations to KCCG who claimed FTF on 11/20/2022
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.