The Tower has a rich climbing history and different meanings for different people. In 1893, two local ranchers first climbed the Tower using a wooden stake ladder. Forty-four years later, Fritz Wiessner made the first ascent using ropes and modern techniques. The National Park Service considers climbing an acceptable recreational use and also recognizes the Tower as a sacred site to many American Indian peoples. Out of respect for traditional cultural practices, a voluntary climbing closure is observed in June each year, and visitors are asked to refrain from climbing the Tower or scrambling in the boulders during that time. Many American Indian ceremonies occur in June near the summer solstice, an important spiritual time, and ceremonies take place at the Tower year-round, often using traditional prayer cloths.