Halibut Point Reservation
Halibut Point Reservation is a nature reserve located in Rockport, Massachusetts. The property is cooperatively managed by The Trustees of Reservations and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. The trustees first acquired property in 1934; the adjoining land was purchased by the state in 1981.
Halibut Point itself is made of 440 million year-old granite. Starting in 1840 granite was quarried from this area, first on a small scale but on a much larger scale when the Rockport Granite Company acquired the quarry. The granite industry collapsed in 1929. The trustees of Reservations acquired 17 acres (69,000 m2) on the eastern side of the quarry in 1934. The rest of the area was unused until late in World War 2 when a 60-foot (18 m) fire control tower, now the park's visitor center, was built to provide aiming information for coastal defense guns. The state purchased 56 acres (230,000 m2) of land resulting in the opening of Halibut State Park in 1981. The quarry is filled with water and is about 60 feet (18 m) deep at the lowest point. There is a self-guided walking tour around the quarry that tells the story about granite mining in those days.
[edit] External links
[edit] Photo gallery
-
View on the quarry and fire control bunker in the background
-
Seaview from Halibut Point
-
Fire control bunker and visitor center
Coordinates: 42°41′28″N 70°37′44″W / 42.69111°N 70.62889°W
 |
This Massachusetts state location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
