William Rogers, above right, relaxes at the Tower with his wife, stepdaughter, and dog. Rogers and Willard Ripley, the first persons to climb to the summit, had driven wooden pegs into a vertical crack between two columns on the southeast side and connected the outer edge of the pegs with a wooden strip. Mrs. Rogers used the ladder exactly two years later to become the first woman to reach the top. The last to use it, in 1927, was Babe White, who was known for his exploits climbing city skyscrapers. Remnants of the ladder can still be seen today.
The handbill for the first ascent, on July 4, 1893, touted the event as better than the World’s Fair.
DEVIL’S TOWER
ONE OF THE GREATEST NATURAL WONDERS of the UNITED STATES
Situated in
CROOK COUNTY, WYOMING.
The Devil’s Tower is a perpendicular column of rock and no human being has ever stepped on its top.
On July 4th, 1893, Old Glory will be hung to the breeze from the top of the Tower, 800 feet from the ground by Wm. Rogers.
The committee and citizens of Crook County have organized the July 4th programme.
SPEAKERS: