
Odd Controversy Of The Name On Wyoming’s Devils Tower
In 1906, America's first National Monument was dedicated, and the naming controversy began. Interestingly, the name Devils Tower may be an issue with an interpreter misinterpreting the name given by Native Americans.
The original interpretation was Bad Gods Tower, known as the Devil's Tower.
Was the naming a grammar error, or was it done on purpose?
The National Park Service says that there were claims that the possessive spelling of Devil's Tower was a grammatical error, but historians claim it was more likely an intentional change.
The US Board on Geographic Names (BGN) is the government agency responsible for adding names to places. It has been naming places since 1890 and has always avoided using possessive names.
It is assumed that the Native Americans in the region didn't favor it and would have preferred the name Bear Lodge. Bear Lodge is the native name for the area, which lends to its historical significance.
In 2014, a petition was circulated to change the name from Devils Tower to Bear Lodge officially. Since BGN is a governmental agency, its policy is that the name wouldn't be changed without legislation being passed. Over the last ten years, though, bills have been submitted to keep the name Devils Tower.
Each side of the argument has many supporters, and the official name change can only be approved by the Secretary of the Interior or the President of the United States.
The area's naming isn't its only story. Many myths surround how the site was formed.
Devils Tower As Seen From The Mother Ship
Gallery Credit: Glenn Woods
Yes, You Really Can Sleep in a Tipi Near Wyoming's Devil's Tower
Gallery Credit: Tipi hosted by Juliana, Airbnb
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