Stonehenge II facts for kids
Stonehenge II is a unique concrete sculpture located in the Texas Hill Country, USA. It was created as a tribute to the ancient and famous Stonehenge monument in England. Al Shepperd came up with the idea, and his friend and neighbor, Doug Hill, helped him build it.
This special sculpture was first located near Hunt, Texas. Now, you can find Stonehenge II on the campus of the Hill Country Arts Foundation in Ingram, Texas.
Stonehenge II is not an exact copy of the original. It's about two-thirds the size of the real Stonehenge. Also, unlike the original, it's not lined up with the sun's movements. Instead, it's Doug Hill's artistic idea, made from steel and concrete, inspired by the nearly 5,000-year-old stone circle in England.
Besides the concrete stones, there are also two statues that look like the famous Moai figures from Easter Island. These imitation Moai are made from the same material as the Stonehenge II stones.
Building Stonehenge II
The very first stone used for this project was a piece of limestone. It was left over from another building project. Most of the other "stones" you see are actually made from plaster. This plaster was put over a wire mesh frame to give them their shape. However, two of the large stones in the middle are real stones. They are so big that they would be very hard to move without special heavy machines.
Moving to a New Home
In the summer of 2010, Al Shepperd decided to sell his land in Hunt, Texas. This meant Stonehenge II needed a new place to call home. The Hill Country Arts Foundation stepped in and offered a new location for the sculpture.
They started a special campaign called 'Save Stonehenge II'. This campaign helped raise the money needed to move, fix, and rebuild the monument in its new spot in Ingram, Texas. By December 2010, all the stones and statues were moved to the new site. They just needed to be put back together.
By 2011, the Hill Country Arts Foundation had collected enough money. This allowed them to move the monument and statues to their new home. It is now on the Foundation's property, close to the Point Theater in Ingram.
Stonehenge II Today
The new location of Stonehenge II is in a very interesting spot. It is directly in the path of the total solar eclipse happening on April 8, 2024. During this event, the eclipse will last for 4 minutes and 26 seconds.
There are also plans for the future of Stonehenge II. These plans include adding a dance floor, benches, and sidewalks around the site. This will make it even more fun for visitors.
