History Celebrated at The Old Settlers’ Picnic!

Press Release – Devils Tower area residents celebrate history with music and picnics at the Old Settlers’ Picnic on Sunday June 25. Festivities will begin at 12:30 pm in the picnic area at Devils Tower National Monument.

Pioneer gatherings at the Tower started during the 1890s.  The men and women who settled the towns and ranches in the area were known as the Old Settlers, and the gathering became known as the Old Settlers’ Picnic.  Over 4,000 people attended the picnic in 1934.      The Old Settlers’ Picnic is an opportunity for local communities to recognize the pioneers of this unique area.

Each year the Devils Tower Natural History Association honors distinguished members of the community. This year’s honorees are Hap and Ruby Stewart, Jerry and Marilyn Knapp, Chipper Chatfield and Walter Gordon. Enjoy the cowboy poetry of Chuck Larson and the music of Cindy Witt. Bring a picnic lunch, your favorite beverage and a lawn chair, and enjoy a good, old-fashioned visit with family and friends.  There will be cake, ice cream, and games for all ages.

The Old Settlers’ Picnic is sponsored by the Devils Tower Natural History Association and the National Park Service. There will be free entrance into the monument. All programs are free of charge and may be changed due to inclement weather.  For more information call 307-467-5283.

Learn more about Devils Tower National Monument by visiting www.nps.gov/deto or www.facebook.com/Devils-Tower-National-Monument-Official-NPS-Site or twitter.com@DevilsTowerNM or Instagram at #devilstowernps

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 417 national parks system and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/nationalparkservice, and YouTube  www.youtube.com/nationalparkservce.