Family Time: Register Cliff- Wyoming 2013

Last weekend we took a short road trip to visit two historical places not far from where we live. We went to visit the famous Oregon Trail Ruts and the Register Cliff in Wyoming. These places are open to the public for free. First I would like to share with you some photos taken at the Register Cliff.

Here's a little introduction to why the place is called "Register Cliff".

The emigrants inscribed their names on a variety of "register rocks" all along the trails. These signatures served a number of purposes. Many emigrants inscribed their names for the simple purpose of declaring, to one and all, that they had made the trek. Others hoped their signatures would signal to family and friends behind them on the trail the date at which they had reached this point. Today, these signatures can still be found at a variety of trail locations.Register Cliff Register Cliff is one of the best remaining signature rocks on the trail. It lies adjacent to an emigrant campground about one day’s trek west of Fort Laramie. Its soft sandstone continues to invite visitors to inscribe their names. Although a prominent visitor site today, no contemporaneous emigrant document has yet been found which references Register Cliff. Sandstone cliffs to the east and west of Register Cliff also contain many well-preserved emigrant signatures. The trail is visible a few yards below the cliff. source: http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/trailsdemo/register_cliff.htm

My husband and I love to visit historical places and learn about the people's lives from back then and hear what it was like from before. These types of trips just make me appreciate life even more and how easy and lucky we are nowadays compared to what type of life they had before. We certainly had a lovely short road trip that day and we learned something new. Our kids may have not fully understand why we were there and the meaning of the place, but that is alright. We got to spend some time together exploring new places and maybe someday when they get old, they will remember this place and they would want to visit it again and by that time with their own kids. 

Next time you are around the area, don't forget to stop by and explore some historical places. It is located not far from the town of Guernsey, Wyoming (Platte County). The area is well marked so you should be able to see it. 

The former owner of the land blasted a whole on the wall to use as a cellar to store vegetables and what not for the winter. They later donated it to the state to preserve the history of the place and for the public to enjoy. (If I a wrong with my information, please correct me)

This one is for my sister-in-law Covina. She will understand once she sees this photo. 

There is a part of the area where it is fenced to protect the really old signatures that the emigrants had carved on the rocks. These names carved on the wall dated back in the 1850's. It was amazing to see the wall of rocks where names have been carved knowing that they were from the people from back in the old days, who were traveling to seek better future for them and their families. And some of them didn't even make it to the journey.

(Photo Credit: Our little man HF. Thank you!)

On our way home, we decided to take the long route and drove by the Glendo Lake and saw a deer with beautiful antlers. What a way to end the day.

"Hey! Don't you know it's open season? Go on, hop away!"