Inyan Kara Mountain facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Inyan Kara Mountain
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Location in Wyoming Show map of Wyoming Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Nearest city	Sundance, Wyoming
Area	480 acres (190 ha)
NRHP reference No.	73001929
Added to NRHP	April 24, 1973

Inyan Kara Mountain (which means "Rock Gatherer" in the Lakota language) is a special mountain in Crook County, Wyoming. It's part of the Bear Lodge Mountains, which are themselves a part of the Black Hills. This mountain is very important to the Lakota people, especially for mothers during childbirth.

Inyan Kara Mountain stands a bit separate from the main Black Hills. It reaches a height of about 6,368 feet (1,941 meters). Early explorers and local Native Americans used to say that the mountain would make rumbling noises on quiet days. However, these noises haven't been heard since 1833. Scientists believe the sounds might have come from gas escaping from burning coal underground.

A Mountain of History

In 1874, a famous army officer named George Armstrong Custer visited Inyan Kara Mountain. He reached the top of the peak on July 23 during his Black Hills Expedition. This trip was important for exploring the area.

In 1973, Inyan Kara Mountain was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a significant historical site that should be protected.

Photo gallery

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  Inyan Kara, altitude 6,000 feet., a stereoscopic photograph from 1874 by William H. Illingworth

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  The Black Hills from the summit of Inyan Kara

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  The prairie surrounding the Black Hills from the summit of Inyan Kara