Rhododendron State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rhododendron State Park |
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 Rhododendron State Park
Location in New Hampshire
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| Location | Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, United States | ||||||||||||||||||
| Area | 2,723 acres (1,102 ha) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 1,191 feet (363 m) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Designation | New Hampshire state park | ||||||||||||||||||
| Established | 1947 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Administrator | New Hampshire Parks and Recreation | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website | Rhododendron State Park | ||||||||||||||||||
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Rhododendron State Park is a special natural area in Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, United States. It covers about 2,723 acres (1,102 hectares) of land. This park is famous for its amazing 16-acre (6.5-hectare) forest of native Rhododendron maximum plants. These beautiful flowering plants are at the northern edge of where they can grow naturally.
The rhododendron forest in the park is the biggest of its kind in New England. Because it's so unique, it was named a National Natural Landmark in 1982. Besides rhododendrons, the park is also home to wild blueberries, cranberries, mountain laurel, and other cool plants like wintergreen.
History of the Park
The story of Rhododendron State Park is quite interesting! Back in 1901, the land's owner, Levi Fuller, planned to cut down all the trees. This would have destroyed the beautiful rhododendron forest.
Luckily, a woman named Mary Lee Ware stepped in. In 1902, she bought the land to protect it. A year later, she gave the land to the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). She made a very important rule: the land had to be kept safe and open for everyone to enjoy. This meant no cutting down trees or picking rhododendrons. This rule has only been broken once, after a big storm in 1938.
The land Mary Lee Ware donated was called "Old Patch Place." The AMC used to have a hostel there. But since 1946, the park has been managed by the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation. It's the only park in their system specifically for plants! The Old Patch Place cottage, which is near the park entrance, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Things to Do and See
Rhododendron State Park is a great place to visit any time of year. The best time to see the rhododendrons in full bloom is usually in mid-July. It's a truly amazing sight when they are all flowering!
The park offers several fun activities:
- Hiking: You can explore many trails, including a part of the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail. This trail goes towards the top of Little Monadnock Mountain.
- Picnicking: There are nice spots to have a picnic with your family and friends.
- Snowshoeing: In the winter, when there's snow, you can go snowshoeing through the quiet park.
The park is open all year, so you can enjoy its beauty in every season.
Images for kids
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The historic Old Patch Place cottage in the park.
See also
In Spanish: Rhododendron State Park para niños
