Hanging Rock State Park, North Carolina
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R K A OU C present time N O D 400 R 10,000 million years years 1 275 million million years years T 100 million H years K C E C L O Hanging Rock State Park An Environmental Education Learning Experience Designed for Grade 5 “Today’s understanding of the earth’s history bears little resemblance to earlier ideas. Many old theories have been revised and new theories developed. As research continues, the story of the earth’s history as we presently understand it will continue to change. Every day discoveries raise new questions and result in the elimination or revision of old ideas. Much of the earth’s history has yet to be deciphered and the farther back one goes in time, the less clear the evidence becomes.” Fred Beyer, North Carolina–The Years Before Man Hanging Rock State Park, NC i April 2000 Funding for the original printing of this Environmental Education Learning Experience was generously contributed by Hanging Rock State Park, NC ii April 2000 This Environmental Education Learning Experience was developed by Jaye Dow Park Ranger III Hanging Rock State Park N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation Department of Environment and Natural Resources James B. Hunt Jr. Bill Holman Governor Secretary Hanging Rock State Park, NC iii April 2000 Other Contributors . Park volunteers; David Howells, former Ranger, Hanging Rock State Park; Luann Bridle, Hanging Rock State Park Advisory Committee; Fred Beyer, Science Educator, Fayetteville, NC; The N.C. Department of Public Instruction; The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and the many individuals and agencies who assisted in the review of this publication: Phyllis Baker Smith, Hanging Rock Advisory Committee Marjory Roth, Principal, Greenhill School Nancy Parks, former Secretary, Greenhill School Carl Merschat, N.C. Geological Survey Mark Carter, N.C. Geological Survey Tyler Clark, N.C. Geological Survey Tracy Davis, N.C. Division of Land Resources 500 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $3,242 $6.48 per copy Printed on recycled paper. 4-00 Hanging Rock State Park, NC iv April 2000 Table of Contents 1. Introduction • Introduction to the North Carolina State Parks System........................................... 1.1 • Introduction to Hanging Rock State Park................................................................ 1.2 • Introduction to the Activity Packet for Hanging Rock State Park........................... 1.4 • Introduction to the Geology of Hanging Rock State Park ....................................... 1.5 2. Activity Summary .................................................................................................... 2.1 • Correlation Chart ..................................................................................................... 2.2 3. Pre-Visit Activities • #1 A Rock Solid Foundation ................................................................................... 3.1 • #2 Layer on Layer ................................................................................................... 3.2 • #3 A Rock Called Sandstone ................................................................................... 3.3 • #4 For a Change ...................................................................................................... 3.4 • #5 Shake It, Baby, Shake It ..................................................................................... 3.5 4. On-Site Activities • #1 Erosion of a Mountain ........................................................................................ 4.1 • #2 A Geo-hike ......................................................................................................... 4.2 5. Post-Visit Activities • #1 A Sauratown Bulletin Board ............................................................................... 5.1 • #2 Geo Talk ............................................................................................................. 5.2 • #3 Do You Mine? .................................................................................................... 5.3 6. Vocabulary ................................................................................................................ 6.1 7. References ................................................................................................................. 7.1 8. Forms ........................................................................................................................ 8.1 9. Notes .......................................................................................................................... 9.1 Hanging Rock State Park, NC v April 2000 Introduction to the North Carolina State Parks System reserving and protecting of public land has grown into As one of North Carolina’s PNorth Carolina’s natural 58 properties across the state, principal conservation agen- resources is actually a rela- including parks, recreation cies, the Division of Parks tively new idea. The seeds areas, trails, rivers, lakes and and Recreation is responsible of the conservation move- natural areas. This vast net- for the more than 160,000 ment were planted early in work of land boasts some of acres that make up our state the 20th century when citi- the most beautiful scenery in parks system. The Division zens were alerted to the dev- the world and offers endless manages these resources for astation of Mount Mitchell. the safe enjoyment of the Logging was destroying a public and protects and pre- well-known landmark – the serves them as a part of the highest peak east of the Mis- heritage we will pass on to sissippi. As the magnificent generations to come. forests of this mile-high An important component peak fell to the lumbermen’s of our stewardship of these axe, alarmed citizens lands is education. Through began to voice their our interpretation and envi- opinions. Governor ronmental education ser- Locke Craig joined them vices, the Division of Parks in their efforts to save and Recreation strives to of- Mount Mitchell. fer enlightening programs Together they convinced that lead to an understanding the legislature to pass a bill and appreciation of our natu- establishing Mount Mitchell recreation opportunities. But ral resources. The goal of as the first state park. our state parks system offers our environmental education much more than scenery That was in 1915. The program is to generate an and recreation. Our lands awareness in all individuals North Carolina State Parks and waters contain unique System has now been estab- which cultivates responsible and valuable archaeological, stewardship of the earth. lished for more than three- geological and biological quarters of a century. What resources that are important started out as one small plot parts of our natural heritage. For more information contact: NC Division of Parks and Recreation P.O. Box 27687 Raleigh, NC 27699-1615 919/ 733-4181 Website – www.ncsparks.net Hanging Rock State Park, NC 1.1 April 2000 Introduction to Hanging Rock State Park anging Rock State Park The History of Hanging appear in the Stokes County Hcovers 6,554 acres in Rock area until late in the Revolu- the Sauratown Mountains. Two Native American tionary War, but there were One of the most easterly tribes inhabited this area dur- conflicts with Tories, as a mountain ranges in the state, ing the same period – the popular legend indicates. the Sauratown Mountains are Saura in Stokes County and Reportedly, a section of the often called “the mountains the Cherokee in Surry park called Tory's Den was away from the mountains,” County. The Saura people, so named when a group of because they are separated after whom the Sauratown Tories captured the daughter from the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains were named, were of a local member of the Mountains. Prominent peaks a peaceful tribe. They had a Whig party and held her cap- in the Sauratown range rise number of village sites along tive in a cave to gain aid for from 1,700 feet to over 2,500 the Dan River; evidence indi- their cause. feet in elevation and stand in cates habitation as far back as In the mid-1930’s consid- bold contrast to the surround- AD 1000. Around 1710, the erable enthusiasm existed for ing countryside, which aver- Sauras moved south to even- the creation of a state park at ages only 800 feet in eleva- tually join the Catawbas near Hanging Rock. The Stokes tion. the Pee Dee River in South County Committee for Hang- The Sauratown Mountains Carolina. By the time of the ing Rock State Park, a citizen are the remnants of a once American Revolution, the group, joined forces with the mighty range of peaks. Over Saura population had been Winston-Salem Foundation. millions of years, wind, water greatly reduced by smallpox On April 20, 1936, the and other forces wore down epidemics. There are a few Stokes County Committee the lofty peaks. What re- individuals in Stokes County for Hanging Rock State Park mains of these ancient moun- who claim ancestry today. deeded a gift of more than tains is due to erosion-resis- The first European settlers 3,000 acres in the Sauratown tant quartzite, which now sup- to enter what is presently Mountains to the state of ports the scenic ridges of Stokes County traveled from North Carolina. Moore’s Knob, Cook’s Wall Pennsylvania and Virginia In 1933, Franklin Roose- and Hanging Rock. along the “Great Wagon velt began the first relief The park is named for one Road” and settled in the rich agency, the Civilian Conser- of its prominent topographical bottomland of the Town Fork vation Corps (CCC), to pro- features,