St. Anthony's Rock facts for kids
St. Anthony's Rock is a cool natural rock formation found in St. Ignace, Michigan. It's a tall, narrow rock made of limestone. Geologists call it a "sea stack," even though it's now on land. It's a popular spot for visitors in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
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What is St. Anthony's Rock?
St. Anthony's Rock is a special type of rock formation. It's called a sea stack or sea chimney. Imagine a tall, thin tower of rock standing alone. It's similar to other famous rocks on Mackinac Island, like Arch Rock and Sugar Loaf.
How it Formed: A Look at Its Geology
St. Anthony's Rock was created by powerful natural forces. Long, long ago, during the Wisconsinan Glaciation (a big ice age), a huge sheet of ice covered the area. This rock, made of strong material called Mackinac breccia, was tough enough to survive the ice.
After the ice melted, a giant ancient lake formed. This lake, called Lake Algonquin, had much higher water levels than today's Lake Huron. The strong waves and water from Lake Algonquin slowly wore away the softer rock around St. Anthony's Rock. This left the harder rock standing tall, like a natural monument.
Who Named the Rock? A Historical Story
A local story says that the rock was named by Father Louis Hennepin. He was a priest who visited the area in 1679 with the explorer La Salle. Both La Salle and Hennepin were very religious. They honored a Roman Catholic saint named Anthony of Padua. Father Hennepin also named Saint Anthony Falls in Minnesota after the same saint in 1680.
St. Anthony's Rock as a Tourist Spot
In 1881, train tracks were built right next to St. Anthony's Rock. This made the unusual rock formation easy to see. Soon, it became a popular tourist attraction. People would send postcards and take photographs of it.
For a while, the rock was not as well-known. But in the 2010s, it became popular again! A small public park was created around it. A fence was put up to protect the rock, and a sign tells visitors about its interesting geology and history.
