Mount Kineo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Kineo |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,789 ft (545 m) |
| Prominence | 750 ft (230 m) |
| Listing | List of mountains of Maine |
| Geography | |
 Mount Kineo
Location in Maine
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| Topo map | USGS Mount Kineo |
Mount Kineo is a really cool mountain in Maine, USA. It sits on a large piece of land that sticks out into Moosehead Lake. Imagine cliffs 700 feet tall (that's about 70 stories high!) rising straight out of the water – that's Mount Kineo! It's the main part of Mount Kineo State Park, a protected area of about 800 acres, looked after by the state of Maine. The mountain itself is 1,789 feet tall.
Contents
A Look Back: Mount Kineo's History
Ancient Uses of Kineo Rock
Long ago, Native Americans traveled from far away to Mount Kineo. They came to get a special type of rock called rhyolite. This mountain has one of the biggest amounts of rhyolite in the world!
Rhyolite is a rock that formed from ancient volcanoes. It's super strong and sharp, almost like flint. Because of its amazing qualities, Native Americans used it to make tools. They crafted arrowheads, hatchets, and chisels from this unique stone. Tools made from Kineo rhyolite have been found all over New England and even further south. This shows that different tribes visited Mount Kineo for hundreds of years to collect this valuable material.
Famous Visitors and Early Hotels
In 1846, a famous writer named Henry David Thoreau visited the Moosehead Lake area. He was very interested in Mount Kineo's rock formations and the stories of the Native Americans who used them.
Later, people started building hotels near Mount Kineo. The first Mt. Kineo House was built in 1848, but it burned down. It was rebuilt in 1870, but that one also burned down in 1882. A third, even bigger hotel opened in 1884.
This third hotel was huge! It could host over 500 guests and was the largest hotel of its kind near an inland body of water in America. The Maine Central Railroad even bought it in 1911. However, the railroad stopped its service to Kineo in 1933, and the hotel was sold in 1938. It burned down during demolition, but an old employee house from that time still stands today.
Exploring Mount Kineo Today
Mount Kineo State Park Adventures
Mount Kineo State Park is a great place for outdoor fun! The park has many trails that go around the peninsula and up to the mountain's peak. You can only get to the park by water. A special boat shuttle service runs from the public dock in Rockwood to Mount Kineo during certain times of the year.
Tee Off at Mount Kineo Golf Course
The Mount Kineo Golf Course is thought to be one of the oldest golf courses in New England. It started way back in 1893! This classic course is right by the lake. It doesn't have sand traps and has smaller greens. One of its most famous holes, the par 3 hole #4, is played over the water with the amazing Kineo cliff as a backdrop.
Images for kids
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A steamer boat arriving at Mount Kineo in 1906.
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The grand Mt. Kineo House in 1908.
