Rock Mary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rock Mary
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| Nearest city | Hinton, Oklahoma |
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| NRHP reference No. | 70000528 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1970 |
Rock Mary is a famous rock formation in Caddo County, Oklahoma. It was a very important spot for travelers on the California Road long ago. This road was a path people took to get to California. The rock got its name in 1849 from a young woman named Mary Conway. She was 17 years old at the time. Mary was the niece of James Sevier Conway, who was the Governor of Arkansas. Her father, Dr. John R. Conway, was a well-known doctor and surveyor. He moved to California with his wife and ten children.
Rock Mary: A Historic Landmark
Rock Mary stands out in the flat land around it. It was easy for travelers to see from far away. This made it a perfect landmark. People traveling west on the California Road knew they were on the right path when they saw Rock Mary. Near the rock, there used to be a spring for fresh water. There was also wood for fires, making it a good place to camp.
What the Historical Markers Say
There are special plaques at Rock Mary that tell its story.
One plaque at the bottom of the rock says:
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.
Another plaque is at the very top of the rock. It talks about the American flag:
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
These plaques tell us that two lieutenants, J.E. Simpson and M.P. Harrison, put the American flag on top of the rock in 1849. This made Rock Mary an even more famous and trusted landmark for people traveling west.
Visiting Rock Mary Today
Rock Mary is on private land, so you cannot just visit it on your own. However, the Hinton Historical Museum helps manage visits to the property. If you want to see Rock Mary, you can contact the museum ahead of time. They might be able to arrange a visit for you. The museum is in Hinton, about 5 miles east of Rock Mary.
