Profile Rock facts for kids
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Profile Rock, also known as the Old Man of Joshua's Mountain, was a large granite rock formation in Freetown, Massachusetts. It stood about 50 feet (15 meters) tall! This special rock was located near the village of Assonet and the Freetown-Fall River State Forest.
Local Wampanoag people believed the rock looked like their respected leader, Chief Massasoit. The Wampanoags lived in the areas of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Chief Massasoit was known for being a close friend to the early Pilgrim settlers.
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The History of Joshua's Mountain
Joshua's Mountain, where Profile Rock was found, was named after Joshua Tisdale. He was one of the first people to settle near this site. For many years, the land was privately owned. A former local official named Ben Evans owned it for a while.
Becoming a State Attraction
Later, Ben Evans sold Profile Rock to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The plan was for it to become a state park and a place for tourists to visit. This made it a public landmark for everyone to enjoy.
Recent Changes to Profile Rock
In recent years, Profile Rock faced some challenges. People sometimes drew graffiti on the rock, even though there were efforts to clean it up.
On June 19, 2019, something big happened. Around 9:22 AM, the Freetown Police and Fire Departments responded to a report at the Profile Rock Park. They discovered that a large part of the historic rock formation had broken off.
Park Closure and Safety
Because of the damage, state forest officials decided to close the park. It was no longer safe for visitors. The public is asked to stay away from the area until further notice.
