# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Devils Tower is a gigantic natural rock formation in the Black Hills in Crook Country (Wyoming) that looks like a tall tower-shaped monument amidst a picturesque terrain. Covering an area of 1,347 acres, this 1,267 feet tall fascinating geological creation is a declared National Monument since 1906. Natively known as ' Mato Tipila ', its name was a product of a misinterpreted translation heard by Colonel Dodge, in 1875. The translation was 'Bad God's Tower' that was later shortened to Devils Tower.

Devils Tower is renowned all over the world for its adventure-led offerings. It is not only a great site for camping, but its towering height and parallel cracks of various difficulty levels make it an exhilarating experience for climbers and trekkers. The natural monument receives visitors every year especially during the summers to take a hike or climb to the summit of the Devils Tower, which is over 5,000 feet above sea level.

Interesting Facts about Devils Tower

Located near the Belle Fourche River that waters the nearby National Park, the Devils Tower holds historical and cultural significance for the people living around the giant rock. According to a study by the National Park Service, the area around Devils Tower is home to more than 20 Native American Tribes, six of whom consider the rock sacred. These include Shoshone, Arapaho, Lakota Sioux, Kiowa, and Cheyenne. They are known to name the Tower in various ways, like 'Bear Tipi' by Arapaho, 'Bear's Lodge' by Cheyenne, 'Grizzly Bear Lodge' by Lakota, and 'Aloft of the Rock' by Kiowa. Devils Tower, for them, is considered as a place of worship. They make offerings of cloths and items in bundles and perform dance rituals at its base.

Mysterious Formation

An impressive structure protruding out of the prairie lands and surrounded by the Black Hills, the Devils Tower formation is considered a mystery by scientists. According to a Native American legend, the rock rose up to save seven little girls from a large bear. Bear claws are still spotted by visitors making the story almost believable. Scientifically though, the Tower has been a subject of study for a long time. Some geologists believe that the natural monument is the inner solidified molten igneous rock of an extinct volcano whose outer sedimentary layer was eroded naturally. The magma components that make up the Tower, like feldspar embedded into the light-colored phonolite rock, are indicators to the geologists' statement. A recent study theorizes the Tower to be an 'eroded laccolith', which is a slow-cooled hard igneous mass that reaches the surface by intruding into sedimentary rock.

The Missing Apostrophe

If you are wondering why this massive 'single' rock or 'monolith' has a plural name, Devils (instead of Devil's), here's your answer - this was a clear honest mistake in the official documents that were signed by the then President Roosevelt to declare this as a National Monument in 1906. The mistake in spelling was never corrected and for the past century and more, we still write it as 'Devils Tower' and not 'Devil's Tower'.

Prairie Dog Villages

Once you have entered the National Park after paying the entrance fee, you can find a number of little prairie dogs coming as near as 10 feet to greet you. The three-miles gap between the entrance and the parking area is a great opportunity to see these cute creatures with their families of small puppies in the Prairie Dog Villages. You can enjoy them from a distance. Going very close to them would be a bad idea. They are known to bite and can infect you with fleas!

Know more about the national monument, visit Devils Tower

Related: Devils Tower Infographic | Location Map Of Wyoming | Hotels in Wyoming

Published On: Tuesday, November 5th, 2013

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
interesting facts about devils tower national monument

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Devils Tower is a gigantic natural rock formation in the Black Hills in Crook Country (Wyoming) that looks like a tall tower-shaped monument amidst a picturesque terrain. Covering an area of 1,347 acres, this 1,267 feet tall fascinating geological creation is a declared National Monument since 1906.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Joe is a resident of Spearfish, S.D. He grew up in the tall-corn state of Iowa, where he developed an early interest in all things outdoors. After high school he moved to Vermillion, S.D., where he earned his bachelor's degree in public relations and advertising.

During his college years, two things caught his attention: the beauty of western South Dakota's Black Hills and a girl from those Black Hills. After graduating from college, Joe traveled across the country as a recruiter for the University of South Dakota. He saw the sights from Pittsburgh to Las Vegas and everywhere in between, but it was the Black Hills (and the girl) that kept drawing him back.

He and wife moved back to the Black Hills in 2008. He's an avid hiker, mountain biker and road cyclist whose future plans include trying to fit a pair of kayaks into the spare bedroom.

| More articles by the author

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 fast facts about Devils Tower | Black Hills Travel Blog

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Joe is a resident of Spearfish, S.D. He grew up in the tall-corn state of Iowa, where he developed an early interest in all things outdoors. After high school he moved to Vermillion, S.D., where he earned his bachelor's degree in public relations and advertising.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Henry Doorly Zoo - a fun family destination - is located just south of Nebraska I-80 and exit 454 in Omaha, Nebraska.

The history of the Henry Doorly Zoo evolves from the small Riverview Park zoo, which was established in 1894.

With the growing number of animals and exhibits, the zoo's facilities were improved during the first half of 20th century.

In 1952, the Omaha Zoological Society was organized to improve the zoo and to provide administrative help to the city.

In 1963, Margaret Hitchcock Doorly - wife of Henry Doorly - donated $750,000 to the zoo with the stipulation that the Zoo be named after her late husband.

In 1965, the society was reorganized to plan reconstruction of the zoo for the city as a non-profit organization. Thus, the first phase of the zoo, which constituted bear grottos, gorilla and orangutan buildings, and Ak-Sar-Ben Nature Kingdom, were completed and dedicated to Henry Doorly.

During 1967 and 1968, a pachyderm exhibit was built on the old baseball diamond site, and the Omaha Zoo Railroad was inaugurated. Many additions were made in later years, which include the opening of a hospital and nursery complex in 1979, and the world's second largest walk-through aviary, in 1983.

The zoo spans an area of about 130 woodland acres, and includes 15 major animal habitats. It manages more than 17,000 specimens representing about 1,000 species that includes mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates.

It also exhibits 44 species that are listed as endangered by Convention on International Trade in Endangered Animals (CITE) as well as seven threatened species.

Henry Doorly Zoo has many innovative facilities and exhibits that preserve a broad array of species and vividly present them to the public.

Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Pavilion, the Lozier IMAX Theater, and the Cat Complex showcase fascinating wildlife and exotic places.

Other innovations include the Scott Aquarium, which has the longest zigzaging underwater tunnel in the world; Lied Jungle, the world's largest indoor rainforest; the Desert Dome, the world's largest indoor desert; Kingdoms of the Night; Hubbard Gorilla Valley; and the Hubbard Orangutan Forest, provide immersive environments that display animals in their natural habitats.

In addition, Henry Doorly Zoo arranges wildlife safaris through the Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari - displaying Nebraska's wildlife as it once lived.

Henry Doorly Zoo is also a leader in animal conservation and research. The Bill and Berniece Grewcock Center for Conservation and Research provides state of the art medical and research capabilities in the animal care and management, reproductive physiology, nutrition, genetics and genome resource banking fields.

In addition, the zoo also has an aggressive undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate student program, providing valuable educational experience to North American and overseas students.

Gift shops are located at the north and south entrances of the zoo and in the aquarium.

Off-site search results for "Henry Doorly Zoo"...

... sites, zoo cams, zoo groups ("Elephant Management and Owners Association") and zoo games. These pages aren't overloaded with links -- the best lists are across the top of the page. The "Zoos" list contains over 225 links to zoos all over the ...
http://www.jsu.edu/depart/library/graphic/zoos.htm

... statues Willie B, a Silverback Gorilla from Cameroon, was brought to the zoo in 1961. For over 25 years he lived in a small caged with only a black and white tv for company and a tire swing for exercise. In 1988 he was releasled in the newly ...
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ga/state/gaphotos/zoo/

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
In 1951, the City of Columbus assumed operation of the zoo. The zoo made history in 1956, when Colo became the first gorilla to be born in captivity. Local residents have repeatedly supported the Columbus Zoo. In 1967, 1984, 1990, and 1994 ...
http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=2117

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Henry Doorly Zoo - a fun family destination - is located just south of Nebraska I-80 and exit 454 in Omaha, Nebraska. The history of the Henry Doorly Zoo evolves from the small Riverview Park zoo, which was established in 1894.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is quite the draw for visitors from both within and outside of Nebraska. It's the state's top paid-attendance attraction, and it continually earns the highest accolades from tourists and from official zoo organizations. But even if you've been here a thousand times, there are probably some things you didn't know about our beloved zoo.

The zoo holds a lot of great memories for everyone who has had the good fortune to visit over the years. If you haven't been here yet, what are you waiting for? TripAdvisor named it the best zoo in the world, so it's definitely worth the trip.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
15 Fascinating Things You Probably Didn't Know About The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium In Nebraska

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is quite the draw for visitors from both within and outside of Nebraska. It's the state's top paid-attendance attraction, and it continually earns the highest accolades from tourists and from official zoo organizations. But even if you've been here a thousand times, there are probably some things you didn't know about our beloved zoo.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Facts and information about the history and background of Sun Valley. We're not saying the place has special powers, but a lot of magical things do happen here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We love our trivia, so are here are few fun facts about Sun Valley, Idaho:

Sun Valley was the first ski resort to build a chairlift, which was adapted from a system used to haul bananas onto ships in Panama.

The first lift ticket price at Sun Valley in 1936 on Proctor and Dollar Mountains was 25 cents.

Sun Valley has the largest automated snowmaking system in the world.

The name "Sun Valley" was thought up by a New York PR agent, Steve Hannigan, who thought the name appropriate for a place that receives 250 days of sunshine a year.

Sun Valley Resort's uphill lift capacity on Bald Mountain is a staggering 21,580 skiers per hour, but averages only 3,500 skiers per day. Result: no lift lines with highest per person uphill lift capacity of any resort anywhere.

The first woman to win a gold medal in the winter Olympics, Gretchen Fraser, hailed from Sun Valley. She continued to mentor Sun Valley's female skiers for many years, including champions such as Susie Corrock, Christin Cooper, Picabo Street, and Muffy Davis, giving them Tiffany gold four-leaf clover pins that assuredly had Fraser's golden touch. She is buried near Ernest Hemingway in the Ketchum Cemetery.

Sun Valley has had a snowboarder in every winter Olympics since the discipline became an Olympic sport. In 2014 our own Kaitlyn Farrington won gold in the women's half pipe.

39 living Olympians call Sun Valley home.

The dual lens, non-fogging ski goggle took off here a innovation which made skiing/riding the most epic conditions possible. Smith Optics, the inventors, was based here from 1965 until 2015.

Powder Magazine was founded here.

Batman is in the local phone book and Bruce Wayne aka Adam West lives here.

17 leaders of Fortune 500 companies call Sun Valley home part of the year

136 current CEO's/Presidents of U.S. businesses covering a wide variety of sectors also call Sun Valley home part of the year

For a few more things you probably didn't know about Sun Valley Check This Out

Also, there have been many movies filmed in the Sun Valley area, including such classics as:

"I Met Him in Paris" (1937) starring Claudett Colbert

"Sun Valley Serenade" (1939) starring Sonja Henie

"How to Marry a Millionaire" (1953) starring Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and Lauren Bacall

"The Tall Men" (1956) starring Clark Gable and Jane Russell

"Bus Stop" (1956) starring Marilyn Monroe

"Ski Party" (1965) starring Frankie Avalon

"Pale Rider" (1985) starring Clint Eastwood

"Town and Country" (2001) starring Warren Beatty and Goldie Hawn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We love our trivia, so are here are few fun facts about Sun Valley, Idaho: Sun Valley was the first ski resort to build a chairlift, which was adapted from a system used to haul bananas onto ships in Panama. The first lift ticket price at Sun Valley in 1936 on Proctor and Dollar Mountains was 25 cents.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Mesa Verde National Park is located in Montezuma County, Colorado, United States. It is famous for the cliff dwellings built by the Pueblo people including the massive Cliff Palace. Know more about the history, rediscovery and the wildlife of this UNESCO World Heritage Site through these 10 interesting facts.

#1 Over population led to the site being abandoned

Mesa Verde was inhabited by Ancestral Pueblo people from 600 A.D. to 1300 A.D. By the thirteenth century, their productive dry farming allowed the Mesa Verde population to grow perhaps as high as 5,000. Increased population and the 24-year regional drought placed the communities under stress. This is the possible reason why Ancestral Pueblo people left Mesa Verde. The 211 square kilometers national park contains ruins of homes and villages built by these people.

#2 Mesa Verde is famous for its cliff dwellings

Mesa Verde National Park is famous for the cliff dwellings made by Pueblo people at the site. Cliff dwellings are structures that are built within caves and under protruding parts of the rocks. There are over 600 cliff dwellings at the site which are also one of the best preserved in the world.

#3 Cliff Dwellings were excellent defense against invaders

Cliff dwellings were built perhaps as a against invading groups. The cliff provided natural protection and the absence of doors and windows on ground floor meant that the solid outer stone walls could be surmounted only by climbing ladders, which could easily be removed during attack. Cliff dwellings also helped in managing solar energy. In the summer, the village was protected from direct sunlight due to the angle of the sun. In winters the angle of the sun warmed the masonry of the cliff dwellings and the warm breeze which blew from the valley made the air 10-20 degrees warmer than on top.

#4 The Cliff Palace is the largest and most famous dwelling at Mesa Verde

In They named it the 1888 two cowboys, while tracking stray cattle in a snowstorm, spotted a cliff dwelling. By climbing down a makeshift ladder they explored the network of rooms with stone tools, pottery, and other artifacts Cliff Palace. The Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling in North America and the most famous one at Mesa Verde. It has 150 rooms and 23 kivas. Kivas are rooms used for ritual and cultural purposes. It is estimated that around 100 people inhabited the Cliff Palace. One of the most remarkable structures in the Cliff Palace is the Square Tower House which at 26 feet is the tallest building in Mesa Verde.

#5 Mesa Verde National Park is home to many rare species

In 1906 President and the Theodore Roosevelt approved the creation of the Mesa Verde National Park to 'preserve the works of man'. 'Mesa' is the Spanish word for Mesa Verde tiger beetle are a few of them. table while 'Verde' is the Spanish word for green. Hence Mesa Verde translates into English as 'green table'. The park was named so because of its forests of juniper and pinon trees. The park protects over 4700 archaeological sites. It is also home to thousands of species of rare, diverse wildlife. The Mexican spotted owl, the peregrine falcon, the Albert's Squirrel, the Colorado pike-minnow

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
5 Interesting Facts On Mesa Verde And Its Cliff Dwellings

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Mesa Verde National Park is located in Montezuma County, Colorado, United States. It is famous for the cliff dwellings built by the Pueblo people including the massive Cliff Palace. Know more about the history, rediscovery and the wildlife of this UNESCO World Heritage Site through these 10 interesting facts.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We've done some digging through our archeological archives to come up with 12 interesting facts you might not know about Mesa Verde National Park.

12 Facts About Mesa Verde

1. Mesa Verde became a national park in 1906. President Theodore Roosevelt created the park to preserve the iconic cliff dwellings. It remains the only cultural park in the National Park System.

2. The Mesa Verde National Park is home to numerous ruins of villages and dwellings built by the Ancient Pueblo peoples, sometimes called the Anasazi. The lived in the dwellings at Mesa Verde from approximately 600 to 1300 AD.

3. There are over 4000 archaeological sites and over 600 cliff dwellings of the Pueblo people at the site.

4. Descendants of Mesa Verde Ancestral Pueblo people spread out far and wide, and include the Hopi in Arizona and the T19 Rio Grande pueblos of New Mexico: aos, Picuris, Sandia, Isleta, San Juan, Santa Clara, San Ildefonso, Nambe, Tesuque, Jemez, Cochiti, Pojoaque, Santo Domingo, San Felipe, Santa Ana, Zia, Laguna, Acoma and Zuni.

5. The most famous Mesa Verde dwelling is the Cliff Palace. It dates back more than 700 years and was likely once painted with bright colors. It is constructed from sandstone, wooden beams and mortar.

6. Henry William Jackson (left) first photographed Mesa Verde and the cliff dwellings in 1874. He later went on to create "Uncle Sam."

7. What's in a name? "Mesa Verde" is Spanish for " green table." The name comes from the juniper trees and other foliage in the area.

8. Mesa Verde became a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in 1978.

9. Scientists once thought the " Mummy Lake" at Mesa Verde was a reservoir. However, more recent research suggests that the body was actually used as a ceremonial structure. Guess that means the old theory no longer holds water.

10. Mesa Verde was likely deserted by 1300. No one is quite sure why. Some researchers blame crop failures.

11. In addition to building their dwellings, the Pueblo people who lived at Mesa Verde made high-quality baskets and pottery. These items were likely passed down from mother to daughter.

12. The people of Mesa Verde were farmers who grew beans, corn and squash. They supplemented their diet by gathering other edible plants and hunting deer, squirrels, rabbits and other animals.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We've done some digging through our archeological archives to come up with 12 interesting facts you might not know about Mesa Verde National Park. Mesa Verde became a national park in 1906. President Theodore Roosevelt created the park to preserve the iconic cliff dwellings. It remains the only cultural park in the National Park System.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
25 Amazing Facts About Death Valley National Park

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Death Valley will both amaze you and make you want to visit on your next vacation. Just not during summer.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
By Katie Jackson /

It's always been a hot destination, so we couldn't be more stoked to include an adventure to this cool national park. See below for some interesting facts that will leave you wanting to take the trip of a lifetime to Death Valley! *This post was updated in 2017

1. Coming in at a whopping more than 3.4 million acres, Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the Lower 48.

2. The highest recorded temperature in the world was recorded in Death Valley's Furnace Creek at 134 Fahrenheit in July, 1913. For almost one hundred years, a false recording made in Libya overshadowed Furncae Creek's claim to fame. In 2012, however, the record went back to Death Valley after it was concluded that the Libyan recording was made in error.

3. Death Valley is the driest place in the country. In 1929, there was not a single drop of rain recorded in Death Valley.

4. Death Valley is home to the country's lowest point, Badwater Basin, which lies at 282 feet below sea level.

5. Death Valley is only 76 miles from the highest point in the country, Mt. Whitney, which tops out at an elevation of 14,505 feet. In other words, the lowest and highest points in the contiguous U.S. are less than 100 miles apart!

6. Life abounds in Death Valley! The Park is home to more than 1000 species of plants (including 50 that are found nowhere else in the world), 300 species of birds, 51 species of mammals (including bighorn sheep and mountain lions), 36 species of reptiles and a handful of amphibian and fish species.

7. Humans are also fond of Death Valley. Archaeologists have found evidence of human presence in Death Valley that dates back at least 9,000 years! The Timbisha Shoshone Native American Tribe has in habited Death Valley for the past 1,000 years.

8. Artists have been working in Death Valley for over 1000 years. People from the Saratoga Spring Culture left some of the area's earliest recorded art on the canyon walls. Artists from all over the world still flock to capture the National Park's picturesque landscapes.

9. Not only have artists flocked here over the centuries, but a variety of mines and way-stations have come and gone since the mid-1800's. Most have disappeared to time, but a few ghost towns still exist along with their stories of hauntings.

10. February is a fine time to visit! The average high temperature in February is 72 degrees Fahrenheit and the average low is 46 degrees Fahrenheit - a perfect range for an active adventure vacation! February is also typically the wettest month. On average, it sees .51 inches of rainfall!
Interested in experiencing this stunning landscape of extremes? You're not alone! We've already had a lot of interest, but there is still space on our next Death Valley adventure vacation which departs February 15, 2015. Call 1-800-575-1540 or email [email protected] to chat with our adventure travel consultants today!

Katie grew up in Montana but considers NYC home. She lives to travel and then write about it!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Ridiculously Cool Things You Didn't Know About Death Valley - Austin Adventures

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
By Katie Jackson / It's always been a hot destination, so we couldn't be more stoked to include an adventure to this cool national park. See below for some interesting facts that will leave you wanting to take the trip of a lifetime to Death Valley! *This post was updated in 2017 1.