Prayer Rock

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In the latter part of 1924, Richard Pettigrew embarked upon an exhaustive search for a revered boulder to display in his museum. Ultimately, this massive three-ton specimen was discovered on a ranch near Evarts, South Dakota. Pettigrew proudly situated the boulder outside his residence and museum in 1925, and it has remained on exhibit ever since. Rock art has been meticulously documented throughout this region since early European exploration began. Specialists continue to disagree over precisely when rock art was created, who employed its use, or what inspired its creation. Further scrutiny and examination have revealed that Native American tribes such as the Sioux, Mandan, and Hidatsa all possess a rich history of reverence for rocks' spiritual power. “Prayer rocks,” like this one, feature intricate carvings of human beings, animals, hoof prints, hands, and feet. The engravings on this boulder depict adult hands and a child's footprint. The open hand was sometimes employed as a symbol of peaceful coexistence and open-hearted spiritual devotion.