Buzz
Soaring at 325 feet from its base to its peak, Chimney Rock stands as a towering presence on the Great Plains, resembling a natural lighthouse. A beloved landmark in Nebraska's panhandle, it once welcomed countless emigrants on their perilous westward journeys. Additionally, it earned its place in one of the most iconic video games ever. Gather more intriguing details about Chimney Rock.
1. Chimney Rock offers a glimpse into America’s volcanic history.
Chimney Rock is a hoodoo, a towering stack of rock layers (or strata). The oldest layer dates back around 34 million years, with the youngest laid down 23 million years ago. Volcanic ash contributed significantly to the formation of many of these layers. About 37 million years ago, a chain of volcanoes erupted across Nevada, Utah, and Colorado, releasing clouds of ash that spread across the Great Plains, mixing with sands, silts, and clays. Over time, the plains' surface rose, and erosion sculpted Chimney Rock into its current form. A tough sandstone cap at the summit may be protecting the softer layers below, slowing down their erosion.
2. One Native American name for Chimney Rock translates to 'elk penis.'
This particular name, used by the Lakota Sioux, was not well received by early white settlers or explorers, who referred to it as 'Elk Peak,' 'Elk Brick,' 'Nose Mountain,' or simply 'The Chimney.' While written descriptions of this formation date back to 1830, the term 'Chimney Rock' was first printed in 1842.
3. Pioneers on the Oregon Trail recognized Chimney Rock as a key landmark.
Stretching over 2,000 miles, the historic
4. Chimney Rock was also a prominent feature on the California and Mormon Trails.
During the Gold Rush of the 1840s and 1850s, the California Trail followed much of the same route as the well-known Oregon Trail. Similarly, the Mormon Trail, a 1,300-mile route linking Nauvoo, Illinois, to Utah’s Great Salt Lake, also passed within view of Chimney Rock.
5. Pioneers used to carve their names into the rocks of Chimney Rock.
'I saw hundreds of names carved into the rock, some at dizzying heights,' wrote a traveler in 1850. 'I placed mine above all except two, and theirs were about 8 feet higher than mine.' Most of these carvings have been worn away by the elements over time, but a few pieces of rock covered with these monograms have been taken from the site and preserved for future generations.
6. On August 9, 1956, Chimney Rock was designated as a National Historic Site.
To experience it firsthand and delve deeper into the region's fascinating history, stop by the Ethel and Christopher J. Abbott Visitor’s Center in Bayard, Nebraska. There, you can take in the breathtaking view of the rocky spire and explore an interactive museum, featuring a miniature Chimney Rock ring-toss game.
7. Chimney Rock is featured on Nebraska’s state quarter.
In 1999, the U.S. Mint launched the 50 States Quarters Program to encourage coin collecting. This initiative released a series of limited-edition commemorative quarters, each featuring a unique tribute to a state on its reverse side. Nebraska’s quarter, issued in 2006, depicts a covered wagon passing by Chimney Rock. The design, chosen by then-governor Dave Heineman, was selected over alternative designs featuring the state capitol in Lincoln, the human figure atop the capitol, and Ponca chief Standing Bear [PDF].
8. When Chimney Rock made its debut in the Oregon Trail video game, it outshined two nearby landmarks.
The Oregon Trail game was originally conceived by Minnesota history teacher Don Rawitsch and his roommates in 1971, but early versions didn’t include any real-life landmarks. In 1984, designer Philip Bouchard was brought in to improve the Apple II version, and to enhance the game’s visuals, he added several authentic natural landmarks. 'Chimney Rock was one of the most iconic, so it had to be included,' Bouchard told the Scottsbluff Star Herald in 2019. In order to space out the game’s landmarks, Bouchard excluded two notable formations along the Oregon Trail: Scotts Bluff and Courthouse Rock, both in western Nebraska, which he felt were 'too close to Chimney Rock to feature all three.'
9. Chimney Rock continues to erode over time.
For nearly two centuries, people have been questioning the stability of Chimney Rock. In 1849, emigrant Israel F. Hale wrote, 'I am very sure it cannot stand many years before large flakes will slide to the ground if all does not come down in a general crash.' Over 150 years later, in the early 2000s, some critics argued that Chimney Rock didn’t belong on Nebraska’s state quarter due to its ongoing erosion. While the exact rate of erosion remains undetermined, making it difficult to predict how much longer the rock will endure, this iconic symbol of the American West continues to stand tall despite a century and a half of concerns about its future.
