Register Cliff, Historic sandstone cliff near Guernsey, US
Register Cliff is a sandstone formation near Guernsey that rises about 100 feet (30 meters) above the North Platte River valley. The rock face displays horizontal limestone layers carved by river erosion and covered with countless names and dates from travelers.
Starting in the 1840s, emigrants on the Oregon Trail carved their names into the soft stone as they traveled westward from Fort Laramie. The earliest recorded carving dates back to July 14, 1829, showing how this practice spanned decades.
The carvings at this site show how travelers marked their journey by leaving personal marks on the stone. You can see the handwriting and names vary greatly, reflecting different people and times who passed through this place.
The site offers informational panels, picnic areas, restrooms, and protected viewpoints for observing the carvings at the base of the cliff. Visit during daylight hours when the sunlight helps illuminate the names carved into the soft rock face.
Three generations of the Unthank family carved their marks on the cliff across more than 80 years: T.H. in 1850, O.N. in 1869, and O.A. in 1931. This extended family story reveals how people returned to mark important moments in their lives at this location.
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