Giant Rock facts for kids
Giant Rock is an enormous, freestanding boulder located in the Mojave Desert in California. It's near the town of Landers, California, and a large military base. This impressive rock covers about 5,800 square feet (539 square meters) of ground. It stands as tall as a seven-story building! Many people believe Giant Rock is the largest freestanding boulder in all of North America, and possibly even the world.
Contents
Giant Rock: A Desert Marvel
History of Giant Rock
Long ago, Native American tribes living near Joshua Tree considered Giant Rock a very special and sacred place.
In the 1930s, a man named Frank Critzer moved to Giant Rock. He was inspired by desert tortoises, which dig holes to stay cool. Critzer decided to dig his own home right under the north side of the rock! He used dynamite to create his underground rooms. He even designed a system to collect rainwater and a tunnel for fresh air. People said his underground home was always comfortable. It was never hotter than 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius) and never cooler than 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius).
Critzer also built a small airstrip on a dry lakebed nearby. By 1941, about one airplane landed there every day. Frank Critzer died at Giant Rock in 1942.
Giant Rock and UFOs
In the 1950s, Giant Rock became a popular spot for people interested in UFOs. A man named George Van Tassel, who was a friend of Critzer's, leased the land around the rock. Van Tassel claimed he had met people from flying saucers. He also organized big meetings called UFO conventions at Giant Rock.
In 1947, Van Tassel, who used to inspect airplanes, moved to Giant Rock with his family. He built several things there, including a cafe, a store, a gas station, and the Giant Rock Airport. He also built a unique building nearby called the Integratron, which he believed could help people live longer and travel through time. Van Tassel ran the airport and other businesses from 1947 to 1975.
The Giant Rock Airport was even approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for commercial airplanes to use in emergencies. In the early 1960s, about one flight landed there each day. From 1961 to 1962, scientists used the airport to launch giant helium balloons. These balloons helped them measure tiny particles called neutrons high up in Earth's atmosphere.
Modern Times
In the early 2000s, something big happened to Giant Rock. The huge boulder fractured, or broke, into two pieces. This break showed the inside of the rock, which was a bright white granite. Today, parts of the rock's outside surface are covered in colorful graffiti.
In popular culture
Giant Rock and George Van Tassel have even appeared in books! They are important parts of the story in the novel Gods Without Men by Hari Kunzru.
