Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock State Park | |
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Map of the U.S. state of Illinois showing the location of Starved Rock State Park | |
Location | Deer Park, LaSalle County, Illinois, United States |
Coordinates | 41°19′17″N 88°59′25″W / 41.32139°N 88.99028°W |
Area | 2,630 acres (10.6 km2) |
Established | 1911 |
Named for | Starved Rock |
Visitors | 2.1 million[1] |
Governing body | Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
Website | Starved Rock State Park |
Starved Rock State Park is a
A flood from a melting glacier, known as the Kankakee Torrent, which took place approximately 14,000–19,000 years ago led to the topography of the site and its exposed rock canyons. Diverse forest plant life exists in the park and the area supports several wild animal species. Of particular interest has been sport fishing species.
Before European contact, the area was home to
In the late 19th century, parkland around 'Starved Rock' was developed as a vacation resort. The resort was acquired by the State of Illinois in 1911 for a state park, which it remains today. Facilities in the park were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, which have also gained historic designation. The Rock was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960. The park region has been the subject of several archeological studies concerning both native and European settlements, and various other archeological sites associated with the park were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
Geology
A catastrophic flood known as the Kankakee Torrent,[3] which took place somewhere between 14,000[4] and 17,000 years ago,[5] before humans occupied the area, helped create the park's signature geology and features, which are very unusual for the central plains.
The park is on the south bank of the Illinois River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River, between the Fox and Vermilion Rivers. The Vermilion created large sandbars at the junction of the Illinois, preventing practical navigation farther upriver. Rapids were found at the base of the butte before the construction of the Starved Rock Lock and Dam.[6]
Starved Rock is known for its outcrops of
History
Early settlements
The growth of agriculture and maize surpluses supported the development of the complex
The earliest group of inhabitants recorded by the colonial French in the region were the historical Kaskaskia, whose large settlement on the north side of the Illinois River was known as the Grand Village of the Illinois. The Kaskaskia were members of the Illinois Confederation, who inhabited the region in the 16th through the 18th centuries. They lived in wigwams made of lightweight material. The natives could easily dismantle these structures when they traveled to hunt bison twice a year. The women gathered tubers from nearby swamps as a secondary source of food. Small bands of aggressive Iroquois settlers arrived in northern Illinois in 1660 in search of new hunting grounds for beaver, stimulating intertribal warfare. The Kaskaskia struggled with the Iroquois, who were armed with guns seized from or traded by Europeans in the eastern United States.[9]
French exploration and mission
In 1673
In 1680 the Iroquois temporarily drove the Kaskaskia out of the settlement during the Beaver Wars, as they were trying to expand their hunting territory. With an increase in French settlers in the area, the Kaskaskia returned by 1683. The French were able to provide the Kaskaskia with guns in exchange for other goods, which they used for defense against the powerful Iroquois, already armed by the English.[citation needed]
Fort St. Louis du Rocher
During the
French troops commanded by Pierre Deliette may have occupied Fort St. Louis from 1714 to 1718; Deliette's jurisdiction over the region ended when the territory was transferred from
"Starved Rock"
The region was periodically occupied by a variety of native tribes who were forced westward by the expansion of European settlements and the Beaver Wars. These included the Potawatomi and others.[12]
There are various local
In 1919 Edgar Lee Masters, author of Spoon River Anthology, wrote a poem titled "Starved Rock" in which he voiced a dramatic elegy for the Illini tribe whose tragic death thus gave rise to the name of the dramatic butte overlooking the Illinois River. (Macmillan Company, N.Y., 1919.)
Resort and state park
Daniel Hitt purchased the land that is today occupied by Starved Rock State Park from the United States Government in 1835 for $85 as compensation for his tenure in the
With the growth of competitive sites, Walther struggled to keep the complex economically stable. In 1911,[14] he sold the land to the Illinois State Parks Commission for $146,000.[15][16][17] The Commission was initially headquartered at Starved Rock State Park after the land was acquired.[18] The state initially acquired 898 acres and opened Starved Rock State Park as a public facility in 1912.[17]
During its early years, Starved Rock State Park was directly accessible only by
When
The butte has eroded 18 to 48 inches (46 to 122 cm) due to foot traffic since the park was developed.[citation needed] To curb this, the Illinois Young Adult Conservation Corps installed a platform and staircase on the landmark in 1981. The CCC-era Starved Rock Lodge and Cabins were added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 8, 1985. The Illinois Bureau of Tourism listed Starved Rock State Park as one of the "Seven Wonders of Illinois" in 2007.[26] 2.1 million people visited the park in 2010.[1]
Archaeological sites and research
Starved Rock
The summit of Starved Rock was the site of archeological excavations in 1947–1949 by archaeologists from the
Corbin Farm
The Corbin Farm Site is a site of archaeological significance located within the park. Today, the site is part of a picnic area.
Hotel Plaza
Little Beaver
The Little Beaver Site is an archaeological site that has been the location of multiple settlements from various periods including, Archaic,
Shaky Shelter
Shaky Shelter Site is the location of a prehistoric rock shelter site at the base of the sandstone bluff within the state park's Kaskaskia Canyon.[32] In 1991 subsurface tests of the 183 m2 shelter site were made and determined that evidence existed only for occupation by Upper Mississippian groups.[32] Shaky Shelter Site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on the same date, June 18, 1998, and as part of the same Multiple Property Submission as the Corbin Farm, Hotel Plaza and Little Beaver sites.[29]
Other sites
Besides the five sites – Starved Rock, Corbin Farm, Hotel Plaza, Little Beaver, and Shaky Shelter – entered on the National Register of Historic Places, there are several other sites of archaeological significance found within the park. Open-air occupation sites are archaeological sites that occur within open areas, such as floodplains or uplands.[30] There are 21 open-air occupation sites within Starved Rock State Park, as of 1998 four of those had been subject to subsurface examination.[30] Those sites include: Hotel Plaza Site, Starved Rock Site, Simonson Site, and Devil's Nose Site.[30]
Rock shelters, such as the one found at the Shaky Shelter Site, are areas used by human inhabitants that occur in rock overhangs that offer a moderate level of protection against the elements.[32] By 1998 14 occupied rock shelter sites had been identified within the state park.[32] At the time of Shaky Shelter's National Register of Historic Places listing it was the only rock shelter in the park determined to have undisturbed prehistoric features of archaeological significance.[32]
At the time of the 1998 addition of the Corbin Farm and Little Beaver sites to the National Register, it had been determined that there were three "village and mound" sites within the park.[33] Besides Corbin Farm and Little Beaver, the Simonson site, an open-air occupation site, is also considered a village and mound site.[33] Simonson Site has faced significant alterations over the years[33]
Flora and fauna
Flora
Approximately 150 types of plants grow at Starved Rock State Park.
Fauna
The stretch of the Illinois River that travels through the park contains several types of game fish that can be caught by anglers.[18] These species include: catfish, bullhead, white bass, sauger, walleye, carp and crappie.[18] However, the recent appearance of the invasive silver carp or Asian carp has greatly affected native fish populations and has likely spurred their decline.[citation needed] No official studies have been undertaken yet to confirm this, but local anglers have reported large catches of silver carp absent any native species.[citation needed]
Climate
Northern Illinois has a
Climate data for Starved Rock State Park | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 30 (−1) |
37 (3) |
49 (9) |
62 (17) |
73 (23) |
82 (28) |
85 (29) |
83 (28) |
77 (25) |
65 (18) |
49 (9) |
36 (2) |
61 (16) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 12 (−11) |
18 (−8) |
29 (−2) |
39 (4) |
50 (10) |
59 (15) |
63 (17) |
61 (16) |
53 (12) |
41 (5) |
30 (−1) |
18 (−8) |
39 (4) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.45 (37) |
1.32 (34) |
2.60 (66) |
3.44 (87) |
4.00 (102) |
4.13 (105) |
3.64 (92) |
3.78 (96) |
3.50 (89) |
2.59 (66) |
2.95 (75) |
2.27 (58) |
35.67 (907) |
Source: The Weather Channel[40] |
Recreation
There are over 13 miles (21 km) of hiking trails in Starved Rock State Park.
From December through February bald eagles can be viewed at the park, either fishing below the
Lodge and cabins
History
Starved Rock Lodge and Cabins were built from 1933 to 1939 by the
Architecture
The Starved Rock Lodge and Cabins were designed by
Historic significance
Starved Rock State Park's Lodge and Cabins were listed on the U.S.
Lock and dam
Starved Rock Lock and Dam, also known as Lock and Dam No. 6, is a lock and dam facility managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers along the Illinois River.[50] It is part of the Illinois Waterway and was constructed between 1926 and 1933.[50] The lock and dam was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Starved Rock Lock and Dam Historic District in 2004.[51]
In popular culture
The ending scene of the 1989 fantasy drama movie Prancer was filmed inside the park at Devil's Nose, and Park Conservation later fined the movie company $1,800 for chopping down a 125-year-old tree. Due to the incident, no further motion picture production has been allowed in the park.[52]
See also
- Buffalo Rock State Park
- Grand Village of the Illinois
- Matthiessen State Park
- Plum Island Bald Eagle Refuge
- Starved Rock Entertainment
References
- Barta, Nancy Hill. Starved Rock State Park (Google Books link), Arcadia Publishing, 2007, (ISBN 0738551368).
- Ferguson, Jacqueline A. and Henning, Dale R. "Archaeological Sites of Starved Rock State Park (9000– 150 B.P.)", National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form, NPS Focus – National Park Service, December 31, 1997, accessed June 15, 2011.
- Illinois State Park Lodges and Cabins Thematic Resources, National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form (PDF), National Register Information System Database, National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, accessed June 15, 2011.
- New York Legislative Documents, "Census of State Parks – Illinois", (Google Books link), Volume 19, 1922, pp. 127–30.
- Sauer, Carl Ortwin; Cady, Gilbert Haven; Cowles, Henry Chandler (1918). Starved Rock State Park and Its Environs. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press.
- "State of Illinois Buys Starved Rock", (Google Books link), Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Volume 4, 1912, pp. 532–33.
Notes
- ^ a b c Staff. "Starved Rock State Park turns 100 years old", Morris Daily Herald, June 10, 2011, accessed June 15, 2011.
- ^ Fun Facts about Illinois Tourism Archived 2011-06-15 at the Wayback Machine, Illinois Issues, University of Illinois Springfield, June 2011
- ISBN 978-0-87842-346-0. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
- ^ "Kankakee Sands Macrosite", The Illinois Steward, University of Illinois Extension, Summer 2009, Volume 18, Number 2, accessed June 15, 2011.
- ^ Moran, Janet. "Kankakee River carved out its place in history", The Times of Northwest Indiana, November 15, 2009, accessed June 15, 2011.
- ^ Sauer, Cady & Cowles 1918, pp. 5–8.
- ^ Sauer, Cady & Cowles 1918, p. 20.
- ^ Sauer, Cady & Cowles 1918, p. 19.
- ^ a b c "I&M Cultural Heritage". Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
- ^ a b "The Illinois Archaeology – Starved Rock Site", Museum Link – Illinois State Museum, 2000, accessed June 15, 2011.
- ^ a b c Skinner, Claiborne A. The Upper Country: French Enterprise in the Colonial Great Lakes. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 2008. Print.
- ^ "Native Americans:American Indian Tribes of Illinois". www.museum.state.il.us.
- ^ "Starved Rock: History, Legends, and Lore". Department of Anthropology – University of Illinois. 2002. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
- ^ Various dates are given for Walther's sale of the land to the state of Illinois. 1922's New York Legislative Documents Vol. 19 reports on page 129 that the land was sold on November 29, 1911, while the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society stated in 1912 that the transaction was completed on December 15, 1911. Sources are in agreement about the year. See: New York Legislative Documents Vol. 19, Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society (Vol. 4), and Illinois State Park Lodges and Cabins Thematic Resources.
- ^ "State of Illinois Buys Starved Rock", (Google Books link), Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Volume 4, 1912, pp. 532–33.
- ^ New York Legislative Documents, "Census of State Parks – Illinois", (Google Books link), Volume 19, 1922, pp. 127–30.
- ^ a b Ward, Michael and Sculle, Keith A. Illinois State Park Lodges and Cabins Thematic Resources, National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form (PDF), National Register Information System Database, National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, October 1984, accessed June 15, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Starved Rock State Park Archived 2010-09-27 at the Wayback Machine", Illinois Department of Natural Resources, official site, accessed July 20, 2018.
- ^ "Illinois Traction System", Electric Railway Journal, (Google Books links), McGraw Hill Pub. Co., 1912. Volume 40, p. 598.
- ^ a b c Sauer, Carl Ortwin, Cady, Gilbert Haven and Cowles, Henry Chandler. Starved Rock State Park and Its Environs, (Google Books link), Geographic Society of Chicago by the University of Chicago Press, 1918, pp. 81–83.
- ^ Illinois State Historic Preservation Agency, October 1984, accessed June 15, 2011.
- ^ ISBN 0738519901).
- ^ "Starved Rock". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
- ^ Margaret Kimball Brown (September 11, 1984) National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Starved Rock (11-Ls-12) / Site of Fort St. Louis/Le Rocher, National Park Service and Accompanying three photos, undated
- ^ Gutowski, Christie, and Rumore, Kori Timeline: The March 1960 Starved Rock murders and convicted killer Chester Weger's release from prison Chicago Tribune, 02/21/2020
- ^ "'Seven Wonders' of Illinois". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. May 10, 2007.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-252-01797-1. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
- ^ a b Ferguson and Henning, pp. 22–23.
- ^ a b c d e "Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties 6/15/98 Through 6/19/98", National Register of Historic Places – National Park Service, official website, accessed June 15, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f Ferguson and Henning, pp. 26–28.
- ^ a b c d Ferguson and Henning, pp. 23–26.
- ^ a b c d e Ferguson and Henning, pp. 28–30.
- ^ a b c Ferguson and Henning, pp. 22–26.
- ^ Murphy, Mike. "Plants In The Park: Nature photographer offers course at IVCC", The Times, (Ottawa, Illinois) April 7, 2011, accessed August 24, 2011.
- ^ "Starved Rock Nature Preserve LaSalle County", Illinois Department of Natural Resources, official site, accessed August 24, 2011.
- ^ ISBN 0736074740).
- ISBN 087842346X).
- ISBN 0809304082).
- ^ Young, Chris. "Natural Illinois", Illinois Issues, University of Illinois Springfield, July/August 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Monthly Averages for Starved Rock State Park". The Weather Channel Interactive, Inc. June 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
- National Recreation TrailDatabase. American Trails. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
- ^ a b Davenport, Don. "Starved Rock Full of Attractions", Chicago Tribune, May 7, 1997, accessed June 16, 2011.
- ^ ISBN 0762744138).
- ^ a b c "Starved Rock/Matthiessen State Parks – Frequently Asked Questions", Illinois Department of Natural Resources, official site, accessed August 18, 2011.
- ^ a b Barta, p. 106.
- ^ "Starved Rock State Park – Ice Climbing Illinois".
- ^ a b c Barta, pp. 67–72.
- ^ Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, HAARGIS Database, accessed August 18, 2011.
- ISBN 1426202512).
- ^ Historic American Engineering Record via National Park Service, Data Pages, pp. 2–3, accessed June 15, 2011.
- ^ "Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 4/30/07 Through 5/4/07", National Register of Historic Places via National Park Service, May 11, 2007, accessed June 15, 2011.
- ^ Sterrett, Craig. "'Prancer' nears 25th anniversary". Newstrib.
External links
- Media related to Starved Rock State Park at Wikimedia Commons
- Media related to Starved Rock Lock and Dam at Wikimedia Commons
- Starved Rock State Park – official site
- Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center, official site, accessed August 18, 2011.
- Official website, Starved Rock State Park via Illinois Department of Natural Resources, accessed July 20, 2018.
- Starved Rock State Park and Surrounding Area", 1999, via Northern Illinois University, accessed June 15, 2011.
- Video, Prairie Fire: Starved Rock (WILL-TV)