Click here for a map of the park.
According to Historypoint.org, “The Alum Spring sandstone cliff is a geological formation about 100 million years old. During the days of dinosaurs, waters flowing from the western mountains toward the newly- formed Atlantic Ocean carried tons and tons of sediment which formed present-day sandstone.” According to Alum Spring Park: a history / compiled by Robert A. Hodge, there exists “crystalline complex of igneous granite and metamorphic gneiss, rocks no less than 500 million years old.” Hodge also says this exposed rock marks the “southeastern edge of the massive deposit of Fredericksburg granite/gneiss complex which forms the ‘fall line’ of the nearby Rappahannock River.”
As you wander through and enjoy the park think of its many prior uses over the years since first being documented by Colonel Byrd of Westover in his A Progress to the Mines in the Year 1732. This park once had buildings that served as a prison, hospital, distillery, water grist flourmill, sawmill, and an icehouse (marked on trail). Towards the back of the park (close to Rt.1) you can see the remnants of an old chimney that doesn’t have a sign. Nearby were a railroad and a rock quarry, of which you can still see remnants. Because of the Alum, the Spring was considered a good place for “those afflicted with dropsy” and the rock was used as a refuge for women and children during the Civil war but also for picnics and reunions at other times. In 1608, John Smith noted an Indian village near the Spring called Seacobeck, meaning “at the foot of the rock.”
As a visitor to this EarthCache, you must answer a few questions to be able to log your find.
Please answer your choice of 5 out of 11 or so questions below and if you choose to, please post an image someone/something/anything from the park that was interesting to you. For example, someone near, above, under, or beside the ROCKS, the playground, the bridge, a trail... (K9 companions count too!) Please don't post pictures that would give away an answer. Posting an image is now optional, to comply with current guidelines for earthcaches.
Sometimes they hand out brochures at the park, but if they don't you can still answer the required number of questions.
What is the name of the creek running in front of the rocks?
What is the elevation at ground zero?
If you face away from the rocks, which compass direction are you facing? (The answer is not “away from”
)
What is a use for Alum? Or Alum comes in what color(s)?
What caused the large portion of rock in the creek? Or what year did the rock land there?
Name one person (from the sign on Dueling Path) who participated in a duel at the park.
What are the coordinates at the sign with the names of the duelers?
From which end does there seem to be more water seeping? (left or right if facing the rock)
What are the coordinates of the sign showing the location of the grist mill?
Approximately how long is this huge rock, the part above ground? (any method or measurement is fine- feet, meters, hands, arm lengths, steps...)
Special Thanks goes to Jane Shelhorse of Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation for giving permission to list this Earthcache.
She would like to me say one very important thing: “Due to erosion concerns, please do not climb on the sandstone cliffs or stream banks.” Thanks Jane Shelhorse
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