Pulpit Rocks facts for kids
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Pulpit Rocks
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as painted in 1858
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Pike St. (Old US 22), northwest of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 93001614 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 4, 1993 |
| Designated NHL | November 4, 1993 |
Pulpit Rocks are amazing rock formations found near Huntingdon in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. These weathered rocks look like tall pillars. In the mid-1800s, they helped scientists understand how the Appalachian Mountains were formed. This discovery was very important for geology, which is the study of Earth's rocks and how they change. Because of their importance, Pulpit Rocks became a National Historic Landmark in 1993. Part of the area is owned by Juniata College, and their geology students often visit the site to learn about rocks. A special sign marks where they are.
What Are Pulpit Rocks?
Pulpit Rocks are located along Warrior Ridge, a natural feature between Huntingdon and Alexandria. You can find them on the north side of Pike Road, which used to be part of a main highway. These rock formations are like tall, weathered pillars. They stand about 50 feet (15 meters) high. Each pillar is separated by about 10 feet (3 meters) of space. This is wide enough for a person to walk through.
When scientists first wrote about these rocks in 1858, a painting was made of them. That painting, which you can see here, showed exactly how they looked back then. The rocks are made of a type of stone called Oriskany sandstone. This sandstone sits on top of layers of limestone. These rocks were formed about 390 million years ago. At that time, this whole area was covered by an ancient sea. Over millions of years, the rocks have been slowly worn away by wind and water.
How They Helped Science
Pennsylvania started its first team of geologists, called the Geological Survey, in 1836. This team worked to map and understand the rocks of the state. The Huntingdon area was one of the first places they studied. John Frazer, one of the geologists, noticed something special about the rocks here. He realized that what people thought about mountain layers was wrong.
Most scientists believed that mountains had simple, single layers of sandstone or other rocks. But at Pulpit Rocks, it was clear there were many different layers of sandstone. These layers were separated by thick sections of other types of rock. This new idea helped scientists understand mountains better. It also made sense of discoveries in nearby New York and Virginia. The Pennsylvania Geological Survey's first big report came out in 1858. It included the watercolor painting of Pulpit Rocks. This showed how important these rocks were for understanding the geology of the Appalachian Mountains and other mountains around the world.
