Shelter Rock (North Hills, New York) facts for kids
Shelter Rock is a huge natural rock found in New York, USA. It sits right on the edge of two towns, Manhasset and North Hills. This amazing rock is a type of rock shelter, which means it has a part that hangs over, offering protection.
It's made of granite and is incredibly heavy, weighing about 1,800 tons! Imagine a rock as tall as a five-story building (55 feet high) and as wide as a school bus (35 feet wide). It also has a big overhang, about 30 feet long.
What is Shelter Rock?
Shelter Rock is a special kind of rock called a glacial erratic. This means it was moved a very long distance by a huge sheet of ice, called a glacier. About 20,000 to 11,000 years ago, glaciers covered much of North America. As they slowly moved, they picked up rocks and carried them along. When the ice melted, the rocks were left behind, sometimes far from where they originally came from.
A Natural Shelter
For thousands of years, this giant rock has been a place of refuge. Long ago, as early as 1000 B.C., Native Americans used Shelter Rock. They found it to be a perfect spot to hide from bad weather like rain, snow, or strong winds. It was a natural shelter, protecting them from the elements.
Legends and Stories
The Matinecock people, who are part of the Lenape Native American group, lived near Shelter Rock. They had many stories and legends about this unique rock. Later, when European colonists arrived, they also created their own tales about Shelter Rock. It has always been a place that sparks imagination and wonder.
Visiting Shelter Rock
Today, Shelter Rock is located on a large private estate called Greentree. This estate used to belong to the Whitney family. Because it's on private land, you can't just walk up to it whenever you want.
However, the Greentree Foundation sometimes arranges special visits. These tours are usually for groups like scouts or school classes. If you're lucky, you might get a chance to see this incredible piece of natural history up close! You can just barely see the top of the rock from Shelter Rock Road, especially in winter when the trees have lost their leaves.
