# Tower Rock

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Rock
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{{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](/source/Mississippi_River), [Brazeau Township](/source/Brazeau_Township%2C_Perry_County%2C_Missouri), [Perry County, Missouri](/source/Perry_County%2C_Missouri), [United States](/source/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](/source/Missouri)
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = County
| country_admin_divisions_1 = [Perry](/source/Perry_County%2C_Missouri)
| 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](/source/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](/source/Perry_County%2C_Missouri)
| nearest_city = [Wittenberg, Missouri](/source/Wittenberg%2C_Missouri)
| locmapin     = Missouri#USA
| area         =
| architect    =
| architecture =
| added        = February 26, 1970
| refnum       = 70000344<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref>
}}

}}

'''Tower Rock''', also known as '''Grand Tower''', is a [rock formation](/source/Rock_formations_in_the_United_States) and landmark island in the [Mississippi River](/source/Mississippi_River), in [Brazeau Township](/source/Brazeau_Township%2C_Perry_County%2C_Missouri), [Perry County, Missouri](/source/Perry_County%2C_Missouri), near the town of [Wittenberg, Missouri](/source/Wittenberg%2C_Missouri), and across the river from [Grand Tower, Illinois](/source/Grand_Tower%2C_Illinois). It was listed on the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/R._R._Donnelley_%26_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 pirate](/source/river_pirate)s, who settled here after being driven off Spanish soil west of the [Mississippi River](/source/Mississippi_River), using the location as a pirate [ambush spot](/source/ambush). This [outlaw](/source/outlaw) haven was destroyed in 1803 by the [United States Army](/source/United_States_Army) [dragoon](/source/dragoon)s, most likely sent from the army post upriver at [Fort Kaskaskia](/source/Fort_Kaskaskia_State_Historic_Site).

[Meriwether Lewis](/source/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](/source/Saxon_Lutheran_Immigration_1838-1839) considered this island their [Plymouth Rock](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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}}

{{authority control}}

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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tower Rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Rock) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Rock?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.