Tower Fall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tower Fall |
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Tower Fall
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| Location | Yellowstone National Park, Park County, Wyoming, US |
| Coordinates | 44°53′37″N 110°23′14″W / 44.8936°N 110.3872°W |
| Type | Plunge |
| Elevation | 6,342 feet (1,933 m) |
| Total height | 132 feet (40 m) |
| Number of drops | 1 |
| Watercourse | Tower Creek |
Tower Fall is a beautiful waterfall located in the northeastern part of Yellowstone National Park. This park is in the state of Wyoming, United States. The waterfall gets its name from the tall, pointy rock pinnacles that stand at the top of the fall.
Tower Fall is part of Tower Creek. The water plunges down 132 feet (about 40 meters) into a deep gorge. This is about 1,000 yards (914 meters) upstream from where Tower Creek joins the Yellowstone River. You can find Tower Fall about three miles south of Roosevelt Junction on the Tower-Canyon road.
Contents
Exploring Tower Fall's History
People have been exploring Tower Fall for a long time! Early explorers helped make Yellowstone a famous place.
First Visitors
In 1869, a group called the Cook–Folsom–Peterson Expedition spent a whole day near Tower Fall. This was on September 15 and 16. After exploring, they crossed the river and traveled further into the area.
A year later, in August 1870, the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition also camped near Tower Fall. They spent several days exploring the area. One member, Gustavus Cheyney Doane, wrote about the waterfall in his report.
What Early Explorers Saw
Gustavus C. Doane described Tower Fall as a "great curiosity." He said the water fell 115 feet (35 meters) into a deep gorge. He also mentioned the "tall spires of rock" that stood like "sentinels" at the top of the fall. These rocks were worn into many shapes.
He wrote that the view from the top of these spires was "exceedingly beautiful." The water rushed through a narrow gorge, tumbling over rocks and fallen trees. The sides of the gorge had caves covered in colorful moss. He thought the waterfall was "chastely beautiful" and hidden away. He believed many people might pass by without knowing it was there.
How Tower Fall Got Its Name
The waterfall was named "Tower Falls" by Samuel Hauser. He was also part of the Washburn party. On August 27, 1870, he wrote in his diary:
Campt [sic] near the most beautiful falls-I ever saw-I named them Tower Falls-from the towers & pinnicle[sic] that overhang them height 115 feet Aug 28-Didnt [sic] move camp Cenery [sic] too beautiful I measured these falls-found them 115-the pinacal [sic] cover top Then 200ft Eight different spires crown from the falls-From below the view is splendid.
– Samuel Hauser
He was so amazed by the beauty that he didn't want to move camp the next day! He measured the falls and noted the "eight different spires" at the top.
Later, in 1928, the U.S. Geological Survey officially changed the name to "Tower Fall" (singular).
Painting That Changed History
A famous painting by Thomas Moran in 1871 helped make Tower Fall even more well-known. This painting showed the beauty of the area. It helped convince the United States Congress to create Yellowstone National Park in 1872. Yellowstone became the world's very first national park!
Images for kids
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Sketch of Tower Fall by Private Charles Moore, 1870
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Illustration, 1871
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Tower Fall by William Henry Jackson, 1871
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Tower Creek, by Thomas Moran, 1871
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Tower Fall and Sulphur Mountain, Thomas Moran, 1875
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Tower Fall, 1894 by Frank Jay Haynes
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Tower Fall, 2003
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Tower Falls of Yellowstone Thomas Moran
