The Native American tribe called the Lakota people have a legend about the origin of Devils Tower. According to their legend, a group of girls were playing in the forest when they were discovered by a group of bears. The girls ran to a rock to escape the bears, and they prayed to the Great Spirit to save them. The Great Spirit heard their prayers and caused the rock to rise from the ground, lifting the girls to safety. The bears tried to climb the rock, leaving deep claw marks on the sides, which can be seen today. This rock became known as Devils Tower.