There were pictures explaining the erosion process. The path around this park is approximately 1 mile long and is completely handicapped accessible with paved trails. |
Near the beginning of the path and throughout many rocks were covered in green or white lichen |
Daddy pointing out a boulder that shows signs of erosion due to weathering |
There were also examples of how the quarry men would break up the large stones by hammering in large metal nails making a line of holes as in the rock above |
Sample of the nails use |
Can't remember what this was called but it was a way for large stones to be carried about very short distances. |
We read that the larger hole we saw in the stones were when core samples were taken to determine if the stones were of good quality for quarrying |
The old quarry with the pink stones in the background |
Exploring the boulders and wandering the trails |
seeing a large boulder with the nail holes in it but it had been abandon for some reason. But it gave the kids an idea how these large stones were cut |
Seeing a large pile of discarded stones |
about halfway through the trails you come to the amazing Elephant rocks formation |
They are huge!! |
We found several with names and dates stamped into dating as far back as 1875. |
The kids loved to climb on the rocks |
It was amazing the size and the precarious way they were standing. |
Kids pretending to push a boulder over:) |
an outcrop of smaller boulders tempted the children to climb them |
on the larger more leveled rocks we found water spots which are called pot holes or bird baths and Daddy discussed with the children how this help to form the rocks we were seeing today |
about 3/4 of the way through the trail we found the old quarry house built entirely of the rough pink granite stone. |
inside the house with the rail lines. This stone was quarried for use in ST Louis, Chicago and other areas for building use. |
Awesome photographs - of rocks and family!! You need to get in a few yourself tho....
ReplyDeleteThese pictures really reminded me of "Enchanted Rock" in the hill country, Texas. If you are ever headed that way you'd love it - its like a giant bald head sticking out of the ground!
i am so jealous about all the great places you're getting to!
Rx
Aw, thanks for sharing this! This is another place we visited the same trip as Johnson Shut Ins...so many years ago. Where are you headed after this area? I lived down by the MO/AR state border, so I know a lot of cool places down that way.
ReplyDeleteWe have a park here that we call "Big Rock Park", but after seeing these rocks, it seems like our park should be called "mediocre rock park"! :-)
ReplyDeleteOh how I love these educational adventures. It is amazing to see how rocks are formed. The rocks are so gigantic and I loved the pictures you took of the children on the rocks. This was a fun one and blessings to you all!
ReplyDeleteWe love Elephant Rocks and Johnson Shut-ins. We spent our anniversary there with the boys. Nico wants to make them a yearly trip. It's great since we live close.
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