Stories and histories shared by tribal members indicate that the Tower was a sacred site - a place for winter camps, vision quests, and summer ceremonies. You can learn more about how and why this place is held sacred by American Indians on our website.

Devils Tower, located in Wyoming, is considered a deeply sacred site by over 20 Northern Plains tribes, including the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Kiowa. They do not refer to it by the name "Devils Tower" (a name given by a colonel in 1875 due to a mistranslation), but rather as Bear Lodge (Mato Tipila), Tree Rock, or Bear's Tipi. According to various oral traditions, the tower was created to save a group of children or hunters who were being chased by a giant bear. In the most famous version, the Great Spirit caused the ground to rise into the sky, and the deep vertical grooves on the tower's sides are said to be the claw marks of the bear as it tried to climb up to reach the people. Today, Native Americans continue to use the site for prayer, sun dances, and vision quests. They often leave "prayer cloths" or bundles tied to the trees near the base, which visitors are strictly asked not to touch. There remains a long-standing cultural tension regarding rock climbing on the tower, particularly in June, which is a sacred month for ceremonies; out of respect, most climbers now observe a voluntary climbing ban during this period.