Maryhill Stonehenge facts for kids
The Maryhill Stonehenge is a special monument in Maryhill, Washington, USA. It is a copy of the famous Stonehenge in England. A rich businessman named Sam Hill had it built in the early 1900s. It was first dedicated on July 4, 1918. This was to remember the brave people who died in World War I.
The monument is made from concrete. Building it started in 1918 and finished in 1929.
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Why Was the Maryhill Stonehenge Built?
The Maryhill Stonehenge was the very first monument in the United States to honor those who died in World War I. It specifically remembered soldiers from Klickitat County, Washington. These soldiers had lost their lives in the war, which was still happening at the time.
Sam Hill's Vision for the Memorial
Sam Hill was a Quaker, a type of Christian. He believed the original Stonehenge was a place where people were sacrificed. He wanted his replica to be a reminder. It was meant to show that people can still be sacrificed to the idea of war. The main stone, called the altar stone, lines up with the sunrise on the summer solstice. This is the longest day of the year.
The monument stands where the town of Maryhill used to be. The town later burned down, but the concrete Stonehenge remained. The memorial looks out over the beautiful Columbia Gorge.
Dedication and Inscription
The monument had a second official dedication on May 30, 1929, when it was fully finished. Sam Hill passed away in 1931. However, he lived long enough to see his Stonehenge replica completed.
A special plaque on the Washington Stonehenge has these words:
In memory of the soldiers and sailors of Klickitat County who gave their lives in defense of their country. This monument is erected in the hope that others inspired by the example of their valor and their heroism may share in that love of liberty and burn with that fire of patriotism which death can alone quench.
Visiting the Maryhill Stonehenge Today
The Maryhill Stonehenge is now part of the Maryhill Museum of Art. It also includes memorials for soldiers from Klickitat County who died in other wars. These include World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the war in Afghanistan.
This concrete landmark is located near U.S. Highway 97. It is about two miles from where you cross the Columbia River into Washington from Oregon. You can visit the memorial for free. However, donations are welcome to help keep it maintained.
