{{Short description|Rock formation in the Mississippi River}} {{distinguish|Grand Tower Island}} <!-- necessary because some online sources use "Grand Tower Island" to refer to Tower Rock; the islands are less than 2 miles apart --> {{other uses}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox islands | name = Tower Rock Island | native_name = | image_name = Tower Rock island monument 1.jpg | image_caption = | image_size = 250px | map = | map_caption = | native_name_link = | nickname = | location = Mississippi River, Brazeau Township, Perry County, Missouri, United States | coordinates = {{coord|37|37|54|N|89|30|53|W|display=inline,title}} | archipelago = | total_islands = | major_islands = | area_sqmi = | length_mi = | width_km = | highest_mount = | elevation_ft = 344 | country = United States | country_admin_divisions_title = State | country_admin_divisions = Missouri | country_admin_divisions_title_1 = County | country_admin_divisions_1 = Perry | country_admin_divisions_title_2 = | country_admin_divisions_2 = | country_largest_city = | country_largest_city_population = | population = | population_as_of = 0 | density_km2 = | ethnic_groups = | additional_info = | website = {{Infobox NRHP | embed = yes | name = Tower Rock | nrhp_type = | image = Karl Bodmer Travels in America (9).jpg | caption = ''Tower-Rock, view on the Mississippi'' (circa 1832): aquatint by Karl Bodmer from the book ''"Maximilian, Prince of Wied’s Travels in the Interior of North America, during the years 1832–1834"'' | location = Brazeau Township, Perry County, Missouri | nearest_city = Wittenberg, Missouri | locmapin = Missouri#USA | area = | architect = | architecture = | added = February 26, 1970 | refnum = 70000344<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref> }}
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'''Tower Rock''', also known as '''Grand Tower''', is a rock formation and landmark island in the Mississippi River, in Brazeau Township, Perry County, Missouri, near the town of Wittenberg, Missouri, and across the river from Grand Tower, Illinois. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.<ref name="nris" />
Tower Rock has also been dubbed with many names over the centuries: Cap de Roche, Cap St. Croix la Tour, La Roche de la Croix, Rock of St. Cosme, Castle Rock, and Devil's Tower.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=McMillan|first=Bruce|date=January 1, 1994|title=Tower Rock: Sentinel of the Mississippi|url=https://www.academia.edu/3546739/Tower_Rock_Sentinel_of_the_Mississippi|journal=The Living Museum 56(2):19-21}}</ref><ref name="DNR">{{cite web|author=Charla A. Pigott|date=November 1969|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Tower Rock|url=http://dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/70000344.pdf|access-date=February 1, 2017|publisher=Missouri Department of Natural Resources|format=PDF}}</ref>
The earliest mention by Europeans of this island is by French missionary Jacques Marquette in 1673: <blockquote>...we found ourselves at a river called ouaboukigou, The mouth of which is at the 36th degree of latitude. Before reaching it, we passed by a Place that is dreaded by the Savages, because they believe that a manitou is there, — that is to say, a demon, — that devours travelers; and The savages, who wished to divert us from our undertaking, warned us against it. This is the demon: there is a small cove, surrounded by rocks 20 feet high, into which The whole Current of the river rushes; and, being pushed back against the waters following It, and checked by an Island near by, the Current is Compelled to pass through a narrow Channel. This is not done without a violent Struggle between all these waters, which force one another back, or without a great din, which inspires terror in the savages....</blockquote>
Another early mention of the rock was by French-Canadian seminarian priests, Fathers Montigny, Davion, and St. Cosme, who planted a cross on the rock in 1698.<ref>{{Cite book |author1=Houck |first=Louis |url=https://archive.org/details/ahistorymissour01houcgoog |title=A History of Missouri: From the Earliest Explorations and Settlements Until the Admission of the State Into the Union |volume=I |publisher=R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company |year=1908 |location=Chicago |page=[https://archive.org/details/ahistorymissour01houcgoog/page/n270 242]}}</ref>
A ridge directly across the river from the island is named Devil's Backbone.
The earliest European inhabitants on the island were a band of river pirates, who settled here after being driven off Spanish soil west of the Mississippi River, using the location as a pirate ambush spot. This outlaw haven was destroyed in 1803 by the United States Army dragoons, most likely sent from the army post upriver at Fort Kaskaskia.
Meriwether Lewis mentions the island in his journals, stating that rivermen who passed the rock would celebrate in a way similar to sailors crossing the equator, by raising a drink of spirits.
Lutherans from Germany considered this island their Plymouth Rock, because they landed near here after seeking a place where they could practice religious freedom.
Although the rock is normally inaccessible by foot, Mike Keeley, then manager of the {{Convert|32|acre|adj=on}} Tower Rock National Historic Site for the Missouri Department of Conservation, said in 2003 that there is usually a time every year when people can walk out to it due to low water conditions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Seeber |first=Ken |date=November 5, 2003 |title=Where's the water? Drought means Tower Rock accessible by foot |work=The Southern Illinoisan |url=https://thesouthern.com/news/wheres-the-water-drought-means-tower-rock-accessible-by-foot/article_119c0f17-82e5-5030-9538-54e185b4ea45.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=February 9, 2022}}</ref> Due to severe drought in October 2022, it was reported that "you can walk over to Tower Rock and not get your feet wet or muddy".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/15/weather/mississippi-river-low-water-tower-rock-climate/index.html |title=The mighty Mississippi is so low, people are walking to a unique rock formation rarely accessible by foot |last1=Chinchar |first1=Allison |last2=Miller |first2=Brandon |last3=Alsup |first3=Dave |website=CNN |date=October 15, 2022 |access-date=October 15, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015160246/https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/15/weather/mississippi-river-low-water-tower-rock-climate/index.html |archive-date=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/natural-areas/tower-rock Tower Rock] - Missouri Department of Conservation * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120615135341/http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/applications/moatlas/AreaSummaryPage.aspx?txtAreaID=7106 Tower Rock Natural Area]
{{Geographical features of Perry County, Missouri}} {{National Register of Historic Places in Missouri}}
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Category:Protected areas of Perry County, Missouri Category:River islands of Missouri Category:Islands of the Mississippi River Category:Conservation Areas of Missouri Category:Natural features on the National Register of Historic Places Category:Landforms of Perry County, Missouri Category:National Register of Historic Places in Perry County, Missouri