Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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 Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park
Location in Florida
Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Monroe County, Florida, United States |
| Nearest city | Islamorada, Florida |
| Established | 1999 |
| Governing body | Florida Department of Environmental Protection |
Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park is a special Florida State Park located in the beautiful Florida Keys. You can find it near Islamorada at mile marker 85.5. This park is unique because it was once a rock quarry. It played an important role in building the famous Overseas Railroad in the early 1900s.
Today, the park shows off amazing fossilized coral. You can also see some of the old machines that were used to dig up the rock. The Hurricane Monument in Islamorada is even made from the special rock found here.
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What Makes Windley Key Park Special?
Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park is like a giant outdoor museum. It helps us understand Florida's past. The park protects a part of an ancient coral reef. This reef is now solid rock! It's a great place to learn about geology and history.
A Peek into the Past: The Quarry's Story
For many years, this area was a busy rock quarry. A quarry is a place where stone is dug out of the ground. The rock here was very useful. It was used for building and decoration.
Henry Flagler and the Overseas Railroad
In the early 1900s, a man named Henry Flagler needed a lot of rock. He was building the incredible Overseas Railroad. This railroad connected the Florida mainland all the way to Key West. It was a huge project! Workers dug up rock from Windley Key to help build the railroad's foundation. This made the railroad strong enough to cross the ocean.
What is Keystone?
The rock found at Windley Key is called Keystone. It's a type of limestone. What makes Keystone special is that it's full of fossils! These fossils are the remains of ancient corals and other sea creatures. They lived in a warm, shallow sea millions of years ago. When you look closely at the rock, you can see the shapes of these old corals.
Discovering Ancient Reefs
The park is called a "fossil reef" park for a good reason. It shows us what a coral reef looked like long, long ago.
What is a Fossil Reef?
A fossil reef is an old coral reef that has turned into rock. Over millions of years, layers of sediment and minerals covered the reef. This pressure and time slowly turned the coral into stone. At Windley Key, you can see these layers of ancient reef. They are exposed because of the quarrying that happened here.
Seeing the Fossils Today
When you visit the park, you can walk along trails. These trails lead you past tall walls of rock. In these walls, you can clearly see the shapes of fossilized corals. One common type you might spot is Brain coral (Diploria). It looks just like a brain! These fossils tell a story about the ocean life that existed here long before humans.
Planning Your Visit
Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park is a fun and educational place to explore. It's a great spot for families and anyone interested in nature or history.
Park Hours
Like most Florida state parks, Windley Key is open every day of the year. You can visit from 8:00 AM until sundown. The visitor center has specific hours. It is open Thursday through Monday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
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