Buffalo Rock State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buffalo Rock State Park |
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 Buffalo Rock State Park
Location in Illinois
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| Location | LaSalle County, Illinois, United States |
| Nearest city | Utica, Illinois |
| Area | 298 acres (121 ha) |
| Established | November 15, 1928 |
| Governing body | Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
Buffalo Rock State Park & Effigy Tumuli is a cool state park in LaSalle County, Illinois. It covers about 298 acres (121 ha) of land. This park sits right across the Illinois River from Starved Rock State Park. It's also very close to the Illinois and Michigan Canal trail.
Long ago, people say this area was used by Native Americans to catch buffalo. Today, the park is home to a unique art exhibit called Effigy Tumuli. These are five giant animal sculptures made from earth! They honor Native American traditions and the animals of the Illinois River.
Buffalo Rock State Park is about 5 miles (8.0 km) east of Utica, Illinois. It's also about 85 miles (137 km) southwest of Chicago, Illinois. The park's amazing sandstone cliffs were carved by the Illinois River a very long time ago, during the last ice age. Now, it's a fun place for people to visit and enjoy nature.
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Park History
The area around Buffalo Rock has a rich history. In 1673, the Illinois Indians lived here in a village called La Vantum. That's when French explorer Louis Jolliet and priest Father Jacques Marquette traveled up the Illinois River.
Later, in 1680, the Illinois Tribe faced many conflicts with the aggressive Iroquois tribe. These battles greatly reduced the Illinois Tribe's numbers.
Buffalo Rock State Park was once an important spot for the French. It was used as a military base, a trading post, and a place for missionaries. In the winter of 1682-1683, explorers LaSalle and Tonty built Fort St. Louis on Starved Rock. They gathered about 4,000 Native American warriors at Buffalo Rock. They wanted to form a group to stand against the Iroquois. The Miami tribe, part of this group, even built their own fort on Buffalo Rock.
In more recent times, the park was used for religious meetings. It was also a special hospital for sick employees of the Crane Company of Chicago. In 1912, the Crane Company bought Buffalo Rock. They used it as a summer vacation spot for their workers and families. In 1927, the company decided to donate the land. They wanted it to become a state park.
On November 15, 1928, the land officially became a state park. The State of Illinois promised to keep it a permanent park. Robert Barnett, who was 72 and had taken care of the land for a long time, was allowed to live there for the rest of his life.
Wildlife at the Park
You can see and hear many different animals at Buffalo Rock State Park. But two special residents are the American Bison! They live in a fenced area and grazing field. You can often spot them across from the baseball diamond.
Exploring the Trails
The park has two main trails for visitors to explore. The River Bluff Trail runs high above the Illinois River. It has two observation decks where you can get amazing views of the river.
The Woodland Trail goes deeper into the park. This trail lets you get a closer look at the trees, plants, and other wildlife living there.
Camping Adventures
If you love camping, Buffalo Rock State Park has three simple camping spots. They are located between Buffalo Rock and Utica, Illinois. Each campsite has a fire ring for campfires. However, there is no running water or restrooms directly at the sites.
You can only reach these campsites by biking or walking. Vehicles are not allowed. One of the three camping sites is just for youth campers. It even has a shelter with a fireplace! Remember, you need to get a permit from the Buffalo Rock State Park information center before you can camp.
Effigy Tumuli: Giant Earth Art
The Effigy Tumuli are incredible earth artworks. They are five huge animal sculptures built as a tribute to ancient Native American traditions of mound building.
The five animals you can see are:
- A 685-foot-long (209 m) water strider
- A 650-foot-long (200 m) turtle
- A 770-foot-long (230 m) catfish
- A 340-foot-long (100 m) frog
- A 2,070-foot-long (630 m) snake (measured from head to tail!)
The water strider, catfish, and frog are made from mounds of dirt, grass, and shrubs. The turtle and snake use the natural landscape to form their shapes. For example, the turtle's shell is a mound that dips into the river. The snake curves and dips down into the river by 90 feet (27 m).
Effigy Tumuli is one of the biggest artworks in the entire country! To truly see the massive animal shapes, you need to view them from above. The Ottawa Silica Company, which owned the land, loved art. They asked artist Michael Heizer to create these sculptures in 1983. He used heavy equipment to finish the project two years later in 1985.
Visitors can walk a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long trail through the site. You are even allowed to climb on the artworks! There are signs and maps to help you understand what you are looking at.
Picnicking Fun
Buffalo Rock State Park is a great place for a picnic or a get-together with family and friends. There are two shelters just for picnickers. Both shelters have grills, picnic tables, and water fountains. Restrooms are also located nearby.
The larger shelter has a stone fireplace and can be reserved ahead of time. The smaller shelter is available first-come, first-served. Near the larger shelter, you'll find a playground. There's also a baseball diamond in the middle of the park for some fun games!
