Jump-off Joe facts for kids
Jump-off Joe was a tall rock formation in the ocean, about 100 feet (30 meters) high. It was located at Nye Beach in Newport, Oregon, United States. This amazing sea stack was made of hard sandstone from the middle Miocene period.
Before World War I, Jump-off Joe was a very popular place for tourists to visit. It formed sometime before the 1880s and was once connected to the land. Walking along the beach was tough because this big rock blocked the way. Early travelers often had to jump off its side to get past it, which is how it got its name. Some old stories say that the site was important in Native American myths.
Over time, natural forces like waves and wind separated Jump-off Joe from the mainland in the 1890s. Its large arch, which was a big opening in the rock, fell down in 1916.
The Name's Story
The name "Jump-Off Joe" comes from a person named Joseph, who was the son of Dr. John McLoughlin. Joseph had an accident near the rock during a trip to trap animals. The rock was first called "The Jump-Off Where Joe Fell." Later, people shortened the name to "Jump-Off Joe."
Important Moments
- Between 1920 and 1970, most of the sea stack collapsed. By 1990, it had almost completely disappeared, and very little of it remains today.
- In 1970 and 1990, scientists from the United States Geological Survey took pictures of what was left of the sea stack.
- In January 2021, a landslide happened near Jump-Off Joe. This made the area unsafe, so it was closed to visitors for safety reasons.
