It has always seemed strange to me that Wyoming does not have a huge monument to the Oregon / California / Mormon Trail within its borders.
Yes, we have the magnificent Trails Center in Casper, a wonderful rest area near Independence, and lots of LDS Church - inspired Mormon Trail sites along the Sweetwater but where is the Oregon Trail National Park or Oregon Trail National Monument in Wyoming?
Those early travelers may have had more danger and more excitement during this trip across the Cowboy State than anywhere else on the 2,000-mile journey.
So, why the lack of recognition?
A Very Big Reason
First, some history is required to know why we do not have more national monuments in Wyoming. We have just Devils Tower and Fossil Butte.
Seems crazy that in all the recent years when Presidents Obama and Clinton were creating all sorts of national monuments that they didn’t consider Wyoming?
The reason is that by law they could not.
We are the only state of the 50 states that prohibits the president or the Congress from creating such places. The only state!
In 1950, Congress amended the Antiquities Act to include a provision specific to Wyoming, stipulating that any new national monument designation within the state must receive Congressional approval. This effectively removes the President's unilateral authority to create national monuments in Wyoming, which is otherwise allowed in other states.
The restriction was a direct response to the controversy surrounding the creation of Jackson Hole National Monument in 1943. President Franklin D. Roosevelt used the Antiquities Act to designate over 200,000 acres of land in northwestern Wyoming as a national monument. This decision was highly unpopular in Wyoming at the time.
Wyoming’s politicians argued that such large-scale federal designations would adversely affect industries like ranching, mining, and logging. As a result, Congress put in a restriction into the Antiquities Act to prevent future unilateral monument designations in just one state – our Wyoming.
And, Now Today
Some members of the Wyoming legislature have been talking about building some kind of large monument, much like Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.
Probably a crazy idea but not a bad one, in my opinion.
But to me, instead of creating something new, let’s celebrate something that is already here. Something that was truly important to the full creation of the United States from sea to shining sea.
Wyoming's role in the Oregon Trail was significant not only because of its geography but also because it was a crossroads for multiple western trails.
Wyoming has always been a place where people traveled through this country. It has been territory where pioneers, traders, missionaries, and gold seekers made critical decisions about their routes. This included the Oregon Trail which intersected with the Mormon Trail, California Trail, and the Pony Express route.
Although our magnificent high altitudes and impressive high winds, the terrain in Wyoming offered a mix of inspiring beauty and daunting obstacles. When pioneers entered the Cowboy State from the east, they encountered the rolling grasslands of the Great Plains, which gradually gave way to more rugged landscapes. These grasslands were needed for grazing the oxen and livestock that accompanied the wagon trains.
One of the first Wyoming landmarks was Fort Laramie, located near the Laramie and North Platte Rivers. Established in 1834, Fort Laramie became a key resupply and resting point for pioneers. Travelers could purchase provisions and repair their wagons before facing the more challenging terrain in front of them. For nearly 50 years, it could be argued that Fort Laramie was the most important place in the West.
Then, the trail led pioneers to Independence Rock, an impressive granite outcrop rising dramatically from the plains. Known as the "Great Register of the Desert," this site is famous for the inscriptions left by travelers who carved their names and dates into the rock as a testament to their journey.
Reaching Independence Rock by the Fourth of July was considered a milestone; it signified that travelers were on schedule to cross the Rockies before winter.
South Pass Allowed Passage
The passage through South Pass marked another critical stage of the journey in Wyoming. Located in the Wind River Range, South Pass was a relatively gentle and wide corridor through the Rocky Mountains.
The discovery of South Pass by Mountain men in the early 19th century was instrumental in making the westward migration possible. South Pass allowed large wagon trains to cross the Continental Divide without excessive difficulty.
The most important landmarks on South Pass were the Oregon Buttes, so named because it marked entry to Oregon Territory. Yes, Oregon stretched all the way to central Wyoming back in those days.
Yes, Let’s Salute The Oregon Trail
So, if we are going to create a monument here in Wyoming, the most logical one to me is recognition of the famous Oregon Trail.
What do you think Legislators?
Readers, let me know your thoughts at bill@cowboystatedaily.com
