There are a couple of reasons why it is the rock got its name some believe it be that the Pawnee indians who use to hold tribal council there, while otheres think it is due to a battle where a small band of Pawnees were destroyed by the Cheyennes, Arapahos and Kiwas. Whatever the reason the rock was important to both the white and indian people. The Plains tribes where said to use it as an observation point. Travellers either viewed it as a good or bad point, either teating it as the worst and most dangerous place to pass, or a welcome landmark that showed them that they were half way through their journey. Many people would scratch their name on the soft sandstone rock which would be beside ancient carvings left by the indians. Alot of the rock was destroyed in the 1870's due to the railroads and people wanting the rock for building stone. The Womans Kansas Day Club aquired what was left in 1908, the following year they turned it over to the State of Kansas as an historic site.

Pawnee Rock is said to be haunted by many Indians and Native Americans, and that sometimes the sounds of battle can be heard.