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Rock City in Minneapolis, Kansas

A Geological Wonder Near Minneapolis, Kansas

Jun 12, 2008 Melissa Bondar

Minneapolis, KS is the place where intrepid adventurers can find Rock City, the world's largest collection of sandstone concretions.

Driving along the highway in Kansas, there are billboards for Rock City. It makes sense that an interested tourist would expect something like buildings or at least huts built out of rock. Rock City is actually a collection of rocks that tourists pay $3 to see. Upon paying out the three dollars, you are given a little pamphlet that marks out the rocks and labels them. There is the crescent, lips, turtle, twin sisters, kissing rocks, bathtub, and the giant’s easy chair – among others – and if you tilt your head the right way and squint your eyes, sometimes the rocks actually do look like that.

A geologist may find this area considerably more interesting. According to the pamphlets provided by the Rock City Gift Shop, these rocks are the largest collection of giant sedimentary rock in the world. Scientists hypothesize that the rocks were created after water, which covered all of Kansas millions of years ago, receeded. The ground water then contained calcium carbonate which cemented all the rocks together.

On the positive side, driving through Kansas doesn’t provide many options for interesting rest stops and Rock City is more interesting than your average road side rest area. It’s about fifteen minutes off the highway, in a very quiet and peaceful area. Children would probably enjoy running around the rocks and climbing on them. There is a small picnic area by the entrance. There are also educational pamphlets available at the guest house that explain the flora and fauna around the rocks and a little about the history of the Native Americans that used to live in the area. People who are interested in flowers can take the time to try to find all 74 different plant species that live among the rocks.

The pamphlet's received in the Gift Shop also highlight other area attractions, most notably the Ottawa County Museum, which most people will wind up driving past to get to Rock City. The museum is home to several dinosaur bones that were found in the Rock City area. Visitors to the museum also get their own free concretion.

So if you’re driving through Kansas looking for a place to see or have a picnic lunch, Rock City could be the place for you.

Directions

20 miles north of the I-70 and I-135 intersection. Get off of I-70 and onto I-135. It is 3.6 miles southwest from Minneapolis. Just follow the signs for Rock City from the Minneapolis exit.

Links

Offical Rock City Website

The copyright of the article Rock City in Minneapolis, Kansas in NE U.S. Travel is owned by Melissa Bondar. Permission to republish Rock City in Minneapolis, Kansas in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.