Rock Mary - Historical Markers

Historical Markers

At the base of the rock formation is a plaque with the following inscription:

ROCK MARY

May 23, 1849

This odd and unusual land feature was named on that date by Lieuts. J.E. Simpson and M.P. Harrison when they visited this site, planted a flag on the crest and named the rock for 17 year belle, Mary Conway, an emigrant.

Oklahoma Historical Society, 1960

A second plaque is located at the crest with the following inscription: THE AMERICAN FLAG

ROCK MARY

From this point on May 23, 1849 the flag of the United States was unfurled by Lts. J.E. Simpson and M.P. Harrison who gave this rock its name. By this act they established this as a famous landmark relied on by countless thousands of western emigrants.

Oklahoma Historical Society, 1960 Rock Mary was chosen as a landmark on the southern trail to California, called the California Trail by Captain Marcy. It stood out on the prairie and could be seen from a distance. The formation seen in the picture is low relative to the surrounding land and can not be seen from far away as it is in the breaks of the creek. In the late 1990's I met the grandson of the man who homesteaded the land around Rock Mary who showed us the correct Rock Mary. Marcy picked the hill because of its prominence and just southeast of the foot of the hill was a spring (since gone dry) and a good camp ground with wood available in the nearby breaks. The grandson stated that from the top you could still see the old wagon trails radiating out from the hill. His grandfather did not want public access to the property, so the State officials picked the current 'official' site because it was more accessible. These facts can be easily verified by talking to the descendants of the homesteader who still own the property. This was an important landmark on the trail and should be accurately identified.