Legend Rock among top ten in USA Today poll

Home to hundreds of petroglyphs, Legend Rock northwest of Thermopolis is considered a sacred site by many. It was recently named number 7 on a USA Today poll of the best archaeological sites across the country.

Hot Springs State Park Assistant Superintendent John Fish said a seventh place finish is fantastic, and he's pleased to see Legend Rock made the final cut. It's very large in terms of petroglyphs, and is one of the best-preserved glyph sites, he added.

Volunteers are always needed, as they are all the site is manned with. There is a volunteer camp post set up from May to September, and visitation hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. during those months. Any other time, the site is closed and keys must be checked out. Legend Rock is set up for self-guided tours, but additional tours for special interest groups can also be arranged. Fish said people should protect the site by staying on the trail and keeping dogs leashed.

As for the poll, 10Best teamed up with archaeology and travel experts to nominate 20 sites, then turned it over to readers to determine the best in the U.S.

Other placers in the poll include:

1. Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon, Ga.

2. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville, Ill.

3. Moundville Archaeological Park in Moundville, Ala.

4. Mesa Verde National Park in Mesa Verde, Colo.

5. Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site in Comstock, Texas

6. Poverty Point National Monument in Pioneer, La.

8. Bandelier National Monument in Los Alamos, N.M.

9. Wupatki National Monument in Flagstaff, Ariz.

10. Chaco Culture National Historic Park in Nageezi, N.M.

Other sites nominated in this included Aztec Ruins National Monument in Aztec, N.M.; First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park in Ulm, Mont.; Horseshoe Canyon Great Gallery in Moab, Utah; Hudson-Meng Bison Kill Site in Crawford, Neb.; Lava Beds National Monument in Tulelake, Calif.; Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village in Avella, Penn.; Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark in Big Horn County, Wyo.; Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument in San Juan County, Utah; Ozette Archaeological Site in Neah Bay, Wash. and Serpent Mound in Peebles, Ohio.