Rock Mary, in

Caddo County, Oklahoma Caddo County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 29,600. Its county seat is Anadarko. Created in 1901 as part of Oklahoma Territory, the county is named for the Caddo tribe who were ...

, was a prominent landmark on the

California Road According to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, there were two trails that may have been known as the California Road at the time of the California Gold Rush. A southerly route, which ran through present-day Oklahoma (then known onl ...

. It was named in 1849 for Mary Conway, the then 17-year-old niece of

James Sevier Conway James Sevier Conway (December 9, 1796 – March 3, 1855) was an American politician who served as the first governor of Arkansas from 1836 to 1840. Early life James Sevier Conway was born on December 4, 1796, in Greene County, Tennessee, to T ...

, the

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the O ...

. Mary was the eldest daughter of Dr. John R. Conway, a prominent physician and surveyor, who emigrated to California with his wife and 10 children.

Historical markers

At the base of the rock formation is a plaque with the following inscription:

''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.'' ''
Oklahoma Historical Society The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) is an agency of the government of Oklahoma dedicated to promotion and preservation of Oklahoma's history and its people by collecting, interpreting, and disseminating knowledge and artifacts of Oklahoma. ...
, 1960''

A second plaque is located at the crest with the following inscription:

''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'' Rock Mary was chosen as a landmark on the southern trail to California, called the California Trail by Captain Marcy. It stood out on the prairie and could be seen from a distance. The formation seen in the picture is low relative to the surrounding land and can not be seen from far away as it is in the breaks of the creek. Marcy picked the hill because of its prominence and just southeast of the foot of the hill was a spring (since gone dry) and a good camp ground with wood available in the nearby breaks.

Access

The landmark is located on private property where no trespassing is allowed. The Hinton Historical Museum has been granted access management of the property and can allow visitors to enter with advance notice. The museum is located in Hinton, 5 miles east of the Rock.

References

External links

Illustration from Oklahoma Historical SocietyIllustration from Oklahoma National Register Properties

Oklahoma Digital Maps: Digital Collections of Oklahoma and Indian Territory
Geography of Caddo County, Oklahoma Geography of Oklahoma Tourist attractions in Caddo County, Oklahoma Natural features on the National Register of Historic Places National Register of Historic Places in Caddo County, Oklahoma {{Oklahoma-NRHP-stub