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Initial Rock facts for kids

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Initial Rock
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property
CusterMilitaryTrail InitialRock2.jpg
Initial Rock is located in North Dakota
Initial Rock
Location in North Dakota
Initial Rock is located in the United States
Initial Rock
Location in the United States
Nearest city Medora, North Dakota
Area 9.9 acres (4.0 ha)
Built 1876
Part of Custer Military Trail Historic Archaeological District (ID08001293)
NRHP reference No. 76002271
Quick facts for kids
Significant dates
Added to NRHP November 7, 1976
Designated CP June 5, 2009

Initial Rock, also known as Name Rock, in the Medora Ranger District of the Little Missouri National Grassland, near Medora, North Dakota, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1976. It was the site of an overnight camp on May 28, 1876 of George Armstrong Custer's men, on their way to the Battle of Little Big Horn, which happened on June 25, 1876. The NRHP listing included one contributing site and one contributing object on 9.9 acres (4.0 ha).

Two soldiers, W.C. Williams and F. Neely, carved their names in a rock still present at the site. Williams and Neely, under the command of Marcus Reno, survived the battle.

A shelter over the rock has prevented further weathering and vandalism since 1966.

It is one of five sites that are included in Custer Military Trail Historic Archaeological District, which is a large historic district that was listed on the NRHP in 2009. These sites are documented as part of a driving tour through the region.

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