Devils Tower – Art on the Land
Visited on site: [10/02/2025] – Crook County, Wyoming
Location & Meaning
Rising nearly 1,300 feet above the Belle Fourche River, Devils Tower is one of North America’s most striking natural formations. Known to many Native nations as Bear Lodge or Mato Tipila (“Bear’s Lodge”), it is a sacred site of prayer, ceremony, and legend. The tower’s unique vertical columns — formed by ancient volcanic magma — inspire both geologists and storytellers alike. Declared the first U.S. National Monument in 1906, it stands as a bridge between earth’s deep history and human reverence.
Stories in Stone
Among the Lakota, Kiowa, and Cheyenne peoples, the Tower’s origin is told through stories of children saved from a giant bear, whose claws left deep marks along the rock’s face. These tales express not only creation, but the relationship between humans and the natural world — protection, transformation, and respect. Every summer, prayer bundles and cloths can be seen tied near the base, honoring the site’s living spiritual importance.
Modern Reflections
Today, Devils Tower is visited by climbers, artists, and pilgrims from around the world. To many Indigenous people, it remains a living altar — a place of renewal and connection. The National Park Service works with tribes to balance preservation with cultural respect, ensuring that the sacredness of Mato Tipila continues to guide those who come near.
Artist’s Reflection
I painted here in the early morning light —
the tower rising like a prayer carved by time.
Wind moved through the grass below,
carrying songs older than words.
The rock stood silent but awake —
a monument not built, but born.