Rock Bridge EarthCache
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Rock Bridge
While there are many attractions in central Missouri, one gem, located southeast of Columbia, outshines them all. Rock Bridge Memorial State park is one of Boone County’s most popular attractions. The park itself is a treasure trove to both the geologist and simply curious alike due to its concentration of geological phenomena in its 2,273 acres.
The namesake Rock Bridge has had a colorful history all its own. The feature is an erosional remnant of what was once a much larger cave system. The canyon upstream from it all the way to the present-day cave opening was once part of the greater cave that collapsed. The limestone that makes up this area is the Burlington Limestone, the same limestone that was used in making the University of Missouri’s famous columns.
Since Rock Bridge was part of a larger cave system, its evolution follows that of caves. Rainwater that seeped into the ground found joints and fractures in the bedrock to exploit with the weak carbonic acid that it contained. These cracks became wider and wider as the weathering continued. Over time the cave, much like man-made houses in disrepair, got weaker and weaker in sections and finally partially collapsed, leaving what we now know as Rock Bridge.
The area around this feature has been popular for some time. Various businesses and industries popped up by the bridge to take advantage of the natural resources, and at one point it even had a dance floor and merry-go-round installed.
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park owes it existence as a public area due to the efforts of Professor Lewis Stoerker, once part of the University of Missouri faculty. He initiated the purchase of this land for public use as a memorial to his nine-year-old daughter Carol, who was killed when struck by a car. It was dedicated by then Governor Christopher Bond on the 50th anniversary of the State Park Board.
SOURCE: Geologic Wonders and Curiosities by Thomas R. Beveridge,
Second Edition, revised by Jerry D. Vineyard, 392 p., 163 figs., app., 1991.
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park is open from sunrise to sunset. Do not seek the cache outside of these hours! Doing so will jeopardize this and other hides in the park.
Please note that this Earthcache can be done from the listed coordinates.
There is no need to go past the fenced-off area.
To get credit for this EarthCache, please answer the following questions and email them to me through my profile.
Any logs that do not follow these requirements will be deleted.
1. Approximately how wide and tall is the Rock Bridge's opening you see before you?
2. What is the elevation at the posted coordinates?
3. How are natural bridges and tunnels formed?
4. While completely optional and not required, it would be nice to post a photo of yourself with the Rock Bridge behind you.
Permission to place this cache has been given by Superintendent Jim Gast of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)