Roden Crater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roden Crater |
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Satellite view of Roden Crater, site of an earthwork in progress by James Turrell outside Flagstaff, Arizona.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,443 ft (1,659 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 470 ft (143 m) |
| Geography | |
 Roden Crater
Location in the United States
Roden Crater
Location in Arizona
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| Location | Coconino County, Arizona, U.S. |
| Topo map | USGS Roden Crater |
| Geology | |
| Volcanic field | San Francisco volcanic field |
Roden Crater is a special kind of volcano called a cinder cone. It's an extinct volcano, meaning it won't erupt again. Inside, it has a bowl-shaped area called a volcanic crater. You can find Roden Crater about 50 miles northeast of Flagstaff in northern Arizona, USA.
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Art Project at Roden Crater
Artist James Turrell bought the land around Roden Crater. This crater is very old, about 400,000 years old. He started a huge land art project there. Land art means creating art using the natural landscape.
What is the Roden Crater Project?
James Turrell has been changing the inside of the crater. He is turning it into a giant observatory. This observatory is special because you use only your eyes to see the sky. It's designed to help people experience sunlight and other amazing things in the sky. It highlights events like the winter and summer solstice. The famous musician Kanye West filmed his 2019 movie Jesus Is King at Roden Crater.
Partnership with Arizona State University
In 2019, Arizona State University (ASU) teamed up with James Turrell. They gave $1.8 million to help with the project. This partnership is called the "ASU-Roden Crater Project." It is based at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. The goal is to bring together art and science.
ASU courses have already started using Roden Crater in their lessons. For example, a class called "Indigenous Stories and Sky Science" teaches about the crater.
The Future of Roden Crater
The Dia Art Foundation continues to support James Turrell's Roden Crater project. This project is located in the Painted Desert in Arizona. Turrell bought the crater in 1979. He had planned to open it to the public in 2011. The opening was then set for 2024. The project is now open for visitors by appointment.
See also
- Land Arts of the American West
- Environmental art
- Environmental sculpture
- Site-specific art
- List of cinder cones
