Black Hawk State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Hawk State Park |
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The "Witches Tower"
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 Black Hawk State Park
Location in Iowa
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| Location | Sac, Iowa, United States |
| Area | 86 acres (35 ha) |
| Elevation | 1,227 ft (374 m) |
| Established | 1935 |
| Named for | Chief Black Hawk |
| Governing body | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Black Hawk State Park |
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Blackhawk State Park
Wildlife Preserve Area (Area A) Black Hawk Preserve (Area B) Denison Beach Area (Area C) |
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| Built | 1933-1935 |
| Built by | Civilian Conservation Corps |
| Architectural style | Rustic |
| MPS | CCC Properties in Iowa State Parks MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 90001678 90001679 90001680 |
| Added to NRHP | November 15, 1990 |
Black Hawk State Park is a fun state park in Iowa, USA. It's located in the town of Lake View. This park has lots to explore, including land, places to camp, and walking trails. It also protects wildlife and has cool historic buildings.
The park is right next to Black Hawk Lake. Every July, the park hosts the exciting Lake View Water Carnival. This event is full of family-friendly activities, including a special Water Parade!
Discovering Black Hawk State Park
Black Hawk State Park was officially opened in 1935. It was named after Chief Black Hawk, a famous leader. The park is managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
The land for the park was gathered in different pieces. A local person named Dr. E.E. Speaker helped a lot to get the land. This included an old gravel pit and two areas of land about 30-acre (12 ha) each.
Building the Park: The CCC and WPA
Many of the park's cool features were built by groups like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA). These were government programs that helped people find jobs during the 1930s.
The CCC Company VCCC 1776, a group of veterans, arrived in November 1933. They worked hard until May 1935. Another CCC group also trained here. Later, WPA workers helped out in 1936 and 1937.
The CCC workers did a lot for the park:
- They cleaned up the old gravel pit.
- They built 13 ponds for raising fish.
- They planted over 3,400 trees!
- They also built picnic shelters, restrooms, and added camp stoves.
The park was ready for visitors by 1936.
Historic Buildings and Rustic Style
Some parts of Black Hawk State Park are very special. On November 15, 1990, three areas of the park were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history.
These areas are important because they show the amazing work done by the CCC. The buildings were designed in a style called Rustic architecture. This style uses natural materials like stone and wood. The goal was to make the buildings blend in with the beautiful nature around them.
The three important areas are:
- Area A: This part focuses on the wildlife preserve. It includes the fish ponds, a restroom, and other structures like steps and benches.
- Area B: Here you'll find a picnic shelter, a restroom, a drinking fountain, and an incinerator.
- Area C: This area has a large picnic shelter and a restroom building.
These historic structures help us remember the hard work that went into creating this wonderful park.
