Hanging Rock (Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hanging Rock
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Hanging Rock, 2019
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1144 S. Gulph Rd., Gulph Mills, Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1924 |
| NRHP reference No. | 97001251 |
| Added to NRHP | December 24, 1997 |
Hanging Rock, also known as Overhanging Rock, or locally as Drummond's Head, is a cool natural rock formation. You can find it in Gulph Mills, which is part of Upper Merion Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
This rock is a big piece of shale that sticks out about eight feet over the road below. It's a really old and important spot!
A Rock with History
Hanging Rock sits right above Pennsylvania Route 320, also called S. Gulph Road. This road was first built way back in 1711 or 1712, making it super old!
George Washington's Path
Imagine this: General George Washington and his Continental Army actually marched along this very road! They passed Hanging Rock on their way to Valley Forge for the winter of 1777–1778 during the American Revolutionary War.
In 1924, the Valley Forge Historical Society made Hanging Rock a special memorial. They wanted to remember that important march by Washington's army.
How the Rock Changed
Over the years, Hanging Rock has changed its shape a bit. In 1917 and again in 1954, people drilled holes into the rock. They were trying to use dynamite to remove it, but it's still there!
Besides those attempts, natural forces like erosion (wind and water wearing it away) have also changed the rock. Even car crashes have chipped away at it over time. Because of this, the part of the rock that "hangs over" the road is a bit smaller now than it used to be.
National Recognition
Hanging Rock is so special that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. This means it's recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
