Farm Creek Section facts for kids
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Farm Creek Section
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Looking downstream along Farm Creek; the geological exposure is in the eroded hillside at left.
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 Location in Illinois
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| Nearest city | East Peoria, Illinois |
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| Area | 15 acres (6.1 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 91002039 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 6, 1992 |
| Designated NHL | December 9, 1997 |
The Farm Creek Section, also known as the Farmdale Geologic Exposure, is a special hillside near East Peoria, Illinois. It's famous because it clearly shows different layers of rock and soil. These layers tell a story about Earth's past. Scientists call these layers "geological strata" or "stratification."
This site is very important in the United States. It was one of the first places where scientists clearly saw and wrote about layers formed during the Ice Age. These layers show different times when huge sheets of ice, called glaciers, covered parts of the Earth. While similar ice age layers were already known in Europe, they were new discoveries in North America.
Discovering Earth's Past
In 1879, a geologist named Frank Leverett found this amazing hillside. He saw how clearly the different layers of rock and soil were stacked. He later wrote about and drew pictures of it in his important book, The Illinois Glacial Lobe, in 1899.
The Illinoian Glaciation
The discoveries at Farm Creek helped scientists understand the "Illinoian glaciation." This was a time when glaciers reached further south than ever before into what is now the Midwestern United States. The findings here helped scientists create maps and timelines for different ice ages across the country. It also played a big part in how we study and understand glacial geology today.
A National Treasure
Because of its huge scientific importance, a 15-acre (6.1 ha) part of the Farm Creek Section was named a National Historic Landmark in 1997. This means it's a very special place that needs to be protected.
Where to Find It
The Farm Creek Section is located on the south side of Farm Creek. Farm Creek is a small river that flows into the Illinois River. You can find it in the Farm Creek Recreation Area. It's south of Illinois Route 8 (Washington Street) and between School Street and Bittersweet Road. You can get there by following an unpaved road. This road used to be a railroad track for the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad. Even though some parts of the hillside are now covered by modern soil and have changed a bit over time, you can still see the amazing layers of rock and soil clearly.
