Mushroom Rock
by Jon Burch Photography
Title
Mushroom Rock
Artist
Jon Burch Photography
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photography
Description
In central Kansas off Highway 140 is the state’s smallest park - Mushroom Rock State Park. The 5 acre park is about 2 miles south of the highway on dirt roads that can be very bad after a rain, and yes, it does rain occasionally in Kansas. The park is surrounded by farms and you can usually hear cattle nearby.
Mushroom Rock State Park has Dakota sandstone concretions much like Rock City further north near Belleville, but here most are not nearly as exposed above ground. There could be a great many more concretions at this park, but almost all are still covered by the surrounding soil and only a portion is seen. The underlying rock is softer sandstone and is eroding away, but some of it still remains and has been supporting three of the rocks for many years.
The resulting exposed rocks have a mushroom shape. The unusual shapes caught the imaginations of the Native Americans and pioneers, some of whom have left graffiti in the limestone and sandstone.
This part of Kansas is rich in history. The Fremont Trail passed to the north and was used by the Kaw-Santa Fe freight company as well as the route for the first overland stages to California. Hostile Indians eventually forced the stage drivers to select a more northern route for protection.
Mushroom Rock State Park is preserved as a scenic area by the Ellsworth County Historical Society.
Some digital effects were applied to the original image after the photograph was made. No electrons were harmed during the transition. Your finished photograph will not contain the watermark.
Image copyright 2021 Jon Burch Photography.
Uploaded
February 12th, 2021
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Viewed 152 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 03/26/2024 at 5:59 PM
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