Initial Rock Explained

Initial Rock
Nearest City:Medora, North Dakota
Coordinates:46.8078°N -103.4108°W
Built:1876
Added:November 7, 1976
Area:9.9acres
Refnum:76002271
Partof:Custer Military Trail Historic Archaeological District
Partof Refnum:08001293
Designated Nrhp Type2:June 5, 2009
Nrhp Type2:cp

Initial Rock, also known as Name Rock, in the Medora Ranger District of the Little Missouri National Grassland, near Medora, North Dakota, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1976. It was the site of an overnight camp on May 28, 1876 of George Armstrong Custer's men, on their way to the Battle of Little Big Horn, which happened on June 25, 1876. The NRHP listing included one contributing site and one contributing object on .

Two soldiers, W.C. Williams and F. Neely, carved their names in a rock still present at the site. Williams and Neely, under the command of Marcus Reno, survived the battle.[1]

A shelter over the rock has prevented further weathering and vandalism since 1966.[1]

It is one of five sites that are included in Custer Military Trail Historic Archaeological District, which is a large historic district that was listed on the NRHP in 2009. These sites are documented as part of a driving tour through the region.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=76002271}} National Register of Historic Places Registration: Initial Rock / Name Rock ]. Charles H. Rodgers . April 1975. and