Description: This image shows the insides of the Ohio Caverns near West Liberty. In 1897, a farm boy investigating the disappearance of water into a sinkhole in a nearby field discovered this system of subterranean passageways. Digging down a few feet, he found an opening to a cave that had begun forming perhaps several thousand years earlier during the Ice Age in soluble limestone bedrock that was approximately 400 million years old. Ground water dripping down from the cavern's ceiling continues to form stalactites, stalagmites, and mineral coatings on the cavern's walls, floor, and ceiling. A portion of Ohio Caverns near the discovery site was opened to the public in 1897, but that section closed in 1925 when a more extensive and geologically interesting part of the cave was discovered. Ohio Caverns is the largest known cave system in the state and is widely considered to be the most beautiful of all Ohio caves. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06553
Subjects: Caves--Ohio; Geology--Ohio; Logan County (Ohio)
Places: West Liberty (Ohio); Logan County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows Whipp's Ledges in Hinckley, Medina County, Ohio, ca. 1940-1949. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL00377
Subjects: Medina County (Ohio); Ohio History--Natural and Native Ohio; Geology--Ohio
Places: Hinckley (Ohio); Medina County (Ohio)
 

Description: View of the Glacial Grooves on the north side of Kelleys Island, Ohio, ca. 1930-1960. These are the largest such grooves in the world that can be easily seen. They were created in limestone bedrock about 18,000 years ago during the Ice Age. A trough 400 feet long, 35 feet wide, and up to 10 feet deep remains today. The ice, probably hundreds of feet thick, moved from the north into what is now the Lake Erie basin. The grooves contain marine fossils that are 350 to 400 million years old. Other grooves on the island were destroyed by quarrying. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL02982
Subjects: Ohio History--Natural and Native Ohio; Geology--Ohio; Historic sites--Ohio--Kelleys Island--Pictorial works; Glacial erosion--Ohio; Kelleys Island (Ohio)--Description and travel
Places: Kelleys Island (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio)
 

Description: Geological, railroad and township map of the state of Ohio, published in 1856 by J.H. Colton and Co. of New York. This map, showing Ohio, Lake Erie, and surrounding states, was drawn by George W. Colta and engraved by J.M. Atwood, with outlines by Charles Whittlesey showing the geological composition of the state. Also included on the map is census information for Ohio cities, transportation routes such as railroads, canals and post roads, and an inset illustration of the Ohio State Capitol. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: VFM_0031_2
Subjects: Maps--Ohio; Geology; Ohio Economy--Transportation and Development; Railroads; Canals--Ohio--History--19th century
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Dated ca. 1940-1949, this photograph shows the Blue Hole in Castalia, Ohio, a large spring fed by an underground river, about 43-45 feet deep. The Castalia Blue Hole was a major tourist attraction from the 1920s up to its closure, especially due to its close proximity to Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. It maintains a water temperature of 48 degrees year round. The blue hole shown in this photograph closed access to the public in 1990, but a new blue hole is open to the public at the Castalia State Fish Hatchery. This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, one of the primary goals of which was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B02F08_001_1
Subjects: Castalia Blue Hole (Ohio); Geography and Natural Resources; Springs; Tourism--Ohio; Geology
Places: Castalia (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio)
 

Description: Dated ca. 1940-1949, this photograph shows the Blue Hole in Castalia, Ohio, a large spring fed by an underground river, about 43-45 feet deep. The Castalia Blue Hole was a major tourist attraction from the 1920s up to its closure, especially due to its close proximity to Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. It maintains a water temperature of 48 degrees year round. The blue hole shown in this photograph closed access to the public in 1990, but a new blue hole is open to the public at the Castalia State Fish Hatchery. This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, one of the primary goals of which was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B05F01A_021_1
Subjects: Castalia Blue Hole (Ohio); Geography and Natural Resources; Springs; Tourism--Ohio; Geology
Places: Castalia (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio)
 

Description: Ohio Caverns, Champaign County, Ohio, ca. 1940-1949. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL00322
Subjects: Caves--Ohio; Ohio History--Natural and Native Ohio; Crystals; Tourism; Geology--Ohio
Places: Champaign County (Ohio)
 

Description: Table Rock is located on the northeast peninsula of Kelley’s Island. Kelleys Island is in fact a mass of solid limestone rock, lifted about twelve feet out of the Lake Erie, and rising in some points to an elevation of 40 or 50 feet above the level of the lake. Geologically, the island consists of successive strata of Columbus limestone with as many as 60 layers which vary in thickness from 2 to 8 inches and full of marine fossils. The eastern shores of the island have mostly been worn smooth from a westbound glacier, producing gentle shores full of rocky beaches. Western facing shores are more sharp and jagged, with erosion caused from the waves of lake. Table Rock is an excellent example, having been separated from the mainland from wave erosion. Standing on a single pedestal, it has undermined to such an extent that is almost ready to topple over. Columbus limestone can be found in a north-south line from Kelleys Island in Lake Erie to south of Columbus and many quarries are, or have been, actively removing this high-calcium limestone for use in production of cement, rip-rap, driveway gravel and road base, agricultural lime, and other uses. The unit was formed in a clear, shallow, tropical sea that covered the state. Fossils of marine animals are abundant in the Columbus Limestone. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F08_003_001
Subjects: Limestone--Ohio; Formations (Geology)--Ohio; Erie, Lake, Coast (Ohio); Lake Erie Islands (Ohio); Historic sites--Ohio--Kelleys Island--Pictorial works; National Register of Historic Places
Places: Kelleys Island (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph is most likely of portion of shoreline at Kelley's Island. Kelleys Island is in fact a mass of solid limestone rock, lifted about twelve feet out of the Lake Erie, and rising in some points to an elevation of 40 or 50 feet above the level of the lake. Geologically, the island consists of successive strata of Columbus limestone with as many as 60 layers which vary in thickness from 2 to 8 inches and full of marine fossils. The eastern shores of the island have mostly been worn smooth from a westbound glacier, producing gentle shores full of rocky beaches. Western facing shores are more sharp and jagged, with erosion caused from the waves of lake. Columbus limestone can be found in a north-south line from Kelleys Island in Lake Erie to south of Columbus and many quarries are, or have been, actively removing this high-calcium limestone for use in production of cement, rip-rap, driveway gravel and road base, agricultural lime, and other uses. The unit was formed in a clear, shallow, tropical sea that covered the state. Fossils of marine animals are abundant in the Columbus Limestone. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F08_029_001
Subjects: Limestone--Ohio; Erie, Geology--Ohio; Erie, Lake, Coast (Ohio); Lake Erie Islands (Ohio); National Register of Historic Places
Places: Kelleys Island (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph is most likely of portion of shoreline at Kelley's Island. Kelleys Island is in fact a mass of solid limestone rock, lifted about twelve feet out of the Lake Erie, and rising in some points to an elevation of 40 or 50 feet above the level of the lake. Geologically, the island consists of successive strata of Columbus limestone with as many as 60 layers which vary in thickness from 2 to 8 inches and full of marine fossils. The eastern shores of the island have mostly been worn smooth from a westbound glacier, producing gentle shores full of rocky beaches. Western facing shores are more sharp and jagged, with erosion caused from the waves of lake. Columbus limestone can be found in a north-south line from Kelleys Island in Lake Erie to south of Columbus and many quarries are, or have been, actively removing this high-calcium limestone for use in production of cement, rip-rap, driveway gravel and road base, agricultural lime, and other uses. The unit was formed in a clear, shallow, tropical sea that covered the state. Fossils of marine animals are abundant in the Columbus Limestone. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F08_033_001
Subjects: Limestone--Ohio; Erie, Geology--Ohio; Erie, Lake, Coast (Ohio); Lake Erie Islands (Ohio); National Register of Historic Places
Places: Kelleys Island (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph is most likely of portion of shoreline at Kelley's Island. Kelleys Island is in fact a mass of solid limestone rock, lifted about twelve feet out of the Lake Erie, and rising in some points to an elevation of 40 or 50 feet above the level of the lake. Geologically, the island consists of successive strata of Columbus limestone with as many as 60 layers which vary in thickness from 2 to 8 inches and full of marine fossils. The eastern shores of the island have mostly been worn smooth from a westbound glacier, producing gentle shores full of rocky beaches. Western facing shores are more sharp and jagged, with erosion caused from the waves of lake. Columbus limestone can be found in a north-south line from Kelleys Island in Lake Erie to south of Columbus and many quarries are, or have been, actively removing this high-calcium limestone for use in production of cement, rip-rap, driveway gravel and road base, agricultural lime, and other uses. The unit was formed in a clear, shallow, tropical sea that covered the state. Fossils of marine animals are abundant in the Columbus Limestone. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F08_038_001
Subjects: Limestone--Ohio; Erie, Geology--Ohio; Erie, Lake, Coast (Ohio); Lake Erie Islands (Ohio); National Register of Historic Places
Places: Kelleys Island (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph most likely shows a cobblestone beach on Kelley's Island. Kelleys Island is in fact a mass of solid limestone rock, lifted about twelve feet out of the Lake Erie, and rising in some points to an elevation of 40 or 50 feet above the level of the lake. Geologically, the island consists of successive strata of Columbus limestone with as many as 60 layers which vary in thickness from 2 to 8 inches and full of marine fossils. The eastern shores of the island have mostly been worn smooth from a westbound glacier, producing gentle shores full of rocky beaches. Western facing shores are more sharp and jagged, with erosion caused from the waves of lake. Beaches covered with limestone cobbles of every size can be found mainly along the southeastern shores. Columbus limestone can be found in a north-south line from Kelleys Island in Lake Erie to south of Columbus and many quarries are, or have been, actively removing this high-calcium limestone for use in production of cement, rip-rap, driveway gravel and road base, agricultural lime, and other uses. The unit was formed in a clear, shallow, tropical sea that covered the state. Fossils of marine animals are abundant in the Columbus View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F08_049_001
Subjects: Limestone--Ohio; Erie, Geology--Ohio; Erie, Lake, Coast (Ohio); Lake Erie Islands (Ohio); National Register of Historic Places
Places: Kelleys Island (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio)