Egg Rock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Egg Rock |
|
|---|---|
View of Egg Rock around 1900, from "The History of Concord, Massachusetts", 1904
|
|
 Egg Rock
Location in Massachusetts
|
|
| Location | Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States |
| Length | .1 km (0.062 mi) |
| Width | .05 km (0.031 mi) |
| Elevation | 39 m (128 ft) |
| Named for | Located on egg-shaped intermittent island; rock outcropping may appear egg-shaped from some perspectives |
Egg Rock is a cool rock formation in Concord, Massachusetts. It's where the Assabet and Sudbury rivers meet to form the Concord River. This rock sits on a small, oval-shaped island, about 100 by 50 meters (the size of a football field!).
You can usually walk to Egg Rock on foot trails. But when the river levels are high, the island gets cut off from the land by a narrow stream. The highest part of Egg Rock is about 39 meters (128 feet) above sea level. It rises about 6 meters (20 feet) above the normal river level.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) lists Egg Rock as an island. Its official location in their database is a bit off. The correct spot is a little to the northeast of where they have it.
Contents
What's Carved on Egg Rock?
In 1885, a special message was carved into Egg Rock. This was to celebrate Concord's 250th birthday since it was founded in 1635.
The carving says: On the hill Nashawtuck
at the meeting of the rivers
and along the banks
lived the Indian owners of
Musketaquid
before the white men came
This message might seem a bit mysterious today. But back then, people in Concord knew exactly what it meant!
The Meaning of the Inscription
The native Massachusett tribe used to call this area Musketaquid. This Algonquian word means "grass-ground" or "meadow river." Even the town of Concord and its river were sometimes called Musketaquid long ago.
The Massachusett tribe's main village in 1635 was on Nashawtuc Hill. This hill is about 500 meters (a third of a mile) southwest of Egg Rock. Simon Willard talked with the tribe's leaders. They agreed that English settlers could live in the area. This peaceful agreement is why the town was named "Concord."
Egg Rock was very important to Concord's history. In 1885, this carving was one of only seven "lasting memorials" made of stone and bronze. These memorials were designed to tell the story of the town's history. Charles Hosmer Walcott, who helped plan them, said the Egg Rock inscription would remind people of the Native Americans who lived there before.
You can see the carving on the eastern side of Egg Rock. It's easy to spot if you're in a boat on the Sudbury River.
Egg Rock: A Special Place in Concord's History
People have been drawn to Egg Rock for a very long time. Native American tools and items have been found around the rock.
Thoreau and the Rivers
Henry David Thoreau, a famous writer, described the rivers near Concord in his 1849 book, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers. He wrote about how peaceful the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers are.
He said the Musketaquid (Concord River) got its name from the "grass-ground" meadows. He also noted that the river's calm flow might have influenced the peaceful nature of Concord's people.
Thoreau himself surveyed Nashawtuc Hill and Egg Rock in the winter of 1856-1857. He wrote in his journal about how the ice "slants up" to Egg Rock in the cold.
Famous Visitors to Egg Rock
Many important people have enjoyed Egg Rock.
- Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson sometimes sat there, watching the water.
- Daniel Chester French, who sculpted the Lincoln Memorial statue and the Minute Man statue, sometimes ate breakfast there.
The Thoreau Society even includes a trip to Egg Rock in its yearly gatherings.
Egg Rock in Art and Poetry
Egg Rock has inspired many artists and writers.
- George Bradford Bartlett mentioned Egg Rock in his 1875 poem "Floating Hearts." He placed it alongside other famous Concord landmarks like the Minute Man statue.
- Nathaniel Hawthorne, another famous author, wrote about the beauty of the Assabet River near Egg Rock. He even mentioned Egg Rock in his short story, "The Village Uncle."
Artists like Michael Cunliffe Thompson, Ilana Manolson, and Gregory Dysart have painted Egg Rock. There's even a classical music group called the Egg Rock Quartet!
Fun on the Rivers Around Egg Rock
Since the 1870s, people in Concord have loved spending time on the rivers near Egg Rock.
- Egg Rock itself was a popular spot for picnics and breakfasts in the summer.
- There was even a "Carnival of Boats" with thousands of people. Boats decorated with lanterns would gather around Egg Rock and float down the Concord River.
Today, the rivers around Egg Rock are protected as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. This helps keep the area beautiful and natural.
Egg Rock is still a part of local celebrations.
- The annual River Fest often includes a "blessing" ceremony at Egg Rock.
- It has been the site of a winter solstice ceremony with a bonfire.
- It's the starting point for a fun fundraiser where nearly 2,000 yellow rubber ducks float down the Concord River!
How to Visit Egg Rock
Many people visit Egg Rock by boat. You can rent boats nearby or use a boat launch ramp about 300 meters (984 feet) downstream. Egg Rock is a great spot for a picnic, with benches on the higher ground.
You can also easily walk or bike to Egg Rock, unless the river is very high. Egg Rock is part of Concord's Egg Rock conservation land. This land was given to the town in 1942.
It's an easy 1 kilometer (about half a mile) walk from Concord center or the Concord railway station. If you drive, you can park on Nashawtuc Road. Then, walk about 200 meters (656 feet) along a driveway called "Squaw Sachem Trail" to a path on the right. This path leads to Egg Rock. The whole walk takes about 30 minutes round trip.
The trail to Egg Rock crosses a small part of the Reformatory Branch Rail Trail. This trail connects to other paths and offers great views of the Assabet River. It also connects to the Minuteman Bikeway, a paved bike path from the Boston area.
You can find detailed maps with footpaths online using the "Coordinates" link in the sidebar. So far, there are no rules stopping people from visiting this historic spot.
Images for kids
-
As in Thoreau's time, ice still "slants up" to Egg Rock in the winter of 2009–2010. High-water marks darken the lower half of the inscription.
