Photo: Wikimedia Commons — see author and license on the file page.

Rock Mary

Nature & parks
Near El Reno, Oklahoma
5.3 mi from Route 66
National Register of Historic Places

Rock Mary is a rock formation in Caddo County, OK, that served as a well-known landmark for travelers on the California Road in the mid-1800s. Its name, given in 1849, honors Mary Conway, the 17-year-old daughter of an emigrant family bound for California. Listed on the National Register, it makes a quiet stop about 4.5 miles off the old road and a reminder that people crossed this country long before Route 66.

What is Rock Mary?

This is a natural rock landmark in the Caddo County countryside. It stood out enough that westbound wagon parties on the California Road used it as a marker along the way, which is why it is recognized today as a historic place rather than simply a scenic one.

History of Rock Mary

The name goes back to 1849. Her father, Dr. John R. Conway, was a physician and surveyor moving his wife and ten children to California, and Mary was the eldest of his daughters. Her uncle, James Sevier Conway, was then governor of Arkansas.

Visiting Rock Mary: tips

Rock Mary is about 4.5 miles off the old road. Treat it as a short photo stop; the formation and the open land around it are the whole show. Red Rock Canyon is about 4 miles away and makes a natural pairing. For a return to highway history, Bridgeport Hill Service Station and Provine Service Station are each about 10.5 miles away.