Devils Tower, Bear Lodge, Empire, and the Rise of American Climbing with Michael Reidy
Schedule
Thu, 15 Jan, 2026 at 05:30 pm
UTC-07:00Location
Museum of the Rockies | Bozeman, MT
Advertisement
A Vertical History of the West: Devils Tower, Bear Lodge, Empire, and the Rise of American Climbing with Michael Reidy One of the Rosenberry-Donohue Lectures on the American West
Established in 1906 as our first National Monument, Devils Tower is a geological wonder. Its human history can tell us a lot about our fascination with seemingly mystical landscapes, our initial contemplation of deep time, and our modern ideas of wilderness. It also reveals a more hidden history of nationalism, empire, and Indigenous dispossession of land. Reidy will go through the surprising history of climbing at Devils Tower National Monument, from its initial first ascent through its more recent explosion in popularity. This lecture will reveal how this remarkable monument represents the history of the rise of American climbing more broadly, but also how Devils Tower can stand in for many other contested vertical geographies in the West, where more than just climbers are on the rise.
Speaker Bio
Professor Michael Reidy teaches in the History of Philosophy department at Montana State University. His research focuses on the history of science, exploration, and mountaineering. An award-winning professor, Reidy has taught students at MSU for over a decade about history, science, and human interaction with the natural world.
Hager Auditorium
Included with membership, $5/non-member
Registration is required at https://museumoftherockies.org/calendar
Advertisement
Where is it happening?
Museum of the Rockies, 600 W Kagy Blvd, Bozeman, MT 59717-2730, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
