Matthiessen State Park is an Illinoisstate park located a few miles south of the more famous Starved Rock State Park. The main entrances to both parks are located on Illinois State Route 178.
Home of Frederick William Matthiessen at Deer Park, designed by Victor Andre Matteson.
The park is near Oglesby, in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States. It is named for Frederick William Matthiessen, who had originally owned the 176 acres (71 ha) of property that is at the core of the current park.[2] Two mansions, several cottages, a garage, and a private fire station were built here by Matthiessen for his family. It was an estate that hosted a private park known as "Deer Park".[3] The park was donated to Illinois by Matthiessen's heirs, following his death in 1918, and was renamed in his honor in 1943. Since then, land was added, growing the park to 1,938 acres (784 ha).[2] The last building of the former estate was destroyed in 1981, although some of the concrete stairs leading into the canyon are of the original construction.[3]
GeologyEdit
The park is centered on a stream that flows from Matthiessen Lake to the Vermilion River. The stream has eroded partway through the sandstone layers, leaving interesting rock formations and drops. The Upper Dells begin at Matthiessen Lake with the Lake Falls, which drop into the canyon below, and continue downstream to the 45-foot-tall (14 m) Cascade Falls where the Lower Dells begin. The interesting coloration of many of the canyons is the result of minerals in the groundwater. Many mineral springs exist throughout the park, providing salt lick spots for the large deer population.[4]
Flora and faunaEdit
FloraEdit
The cool and damp canyons provide an ideal habitat for many species of mosses, liverworts, and ferns. On top of the bluffs that form the canyons can be found black oak (Quercus velutina), red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), and white oak (Quercus alba) trees, which thrive in the sandy soil. The park contains several species generally found farther north, such as the Canada yew (Taxus canadensis) and Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense).[3]
FaunaEdit
Frogs, toads, and salamanders live on the canyon floors, while bird species such as the cliff swallow nest in the eroded canyon walls.[5] As the former name of "Deer Park" might suggest, the area is home to a very large population of white-tail deer.
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^dnr.state.il.us . Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
October 15, 2023
matthiessen, state, park, illinois, state, park, located, miles, south, more, famous, starved, rock, state, park, main, entrances, both, parks, located, illinois, state, route, iucn, category, natural, monument, feature, cascade, falls, location, within, illin. Matthiessen State Park is an Illinois state park located a few miles south of the more famous Starved Rock State Park The main entrances to both parks are located on Illinois State Route 178 Matthiessen State ParkIUCN category III natural monument or feature Cascade Falls at Matthiessen State ParkLocation of Matthiessen State Park within IllinoisShow map of IllinoisMatthiessen State Park the United States Show map of the United StatesLocationDeer Park LaSalle County Illinois United StatesNearest cityOglesby IllinoisCoordinates41 17 44 N 89 01 31 W 41 29556 N 89 02528 W 41 29556 89 02528 1 Area1 700 acres 6 9 km2 Established1943Governing bodyIllinois Department of Natural Resourcesdnr wbr state wbr il wbr us wbr lands wbr Landmgt wbr PARKS wbr R1 wbr mttindex wbr htm Contents 1 History 2 Geology 3 Flora and fauna 3 1 Flora 3 2 Fauna 4 Recreation 5 ReferencesHistory Edit nbsp Home of Frederick William Matthiessen at Deer Park designed by Victor Andre Matteson The park is near Oglesby in LaSalle County Illinois United States It is named for Frederick William Matthiessen who had originally owned the 176 acres 71 ha of property that is at the core of the current park 2 Two mansions several cottages a garage and a private fire station were built here by Matthiessen for his family It was an estate that hosted a private park known as Deer Park 3 The park was donated to Illinois by Matthiessen s heirs following his death in 1918 and was renamed in his honor in 1943 Since then land was added growing the park to 1 938 acres 784 ha 2 The last building of the former estate was destroyed in 1981 although some of the concrete stairs leading into the canyon are of the original construction 3 Geology EditThe park is centered on a stream that flows from Matthiessen Lake to the Vermilion River The stream has eroded partway through the sandstone layers leaving interesting rock formations and drops The Upper Dells begin at Matthiessen Lake with the Lake Falls which drop into the canyon below and continue downstream to the 45 foot tall 14 m Cascade Falls where the Lower Dells begin The interesting coloration of many of the canyons is the result of minerals in the groundwater Many mineral springs exist throughout the park providing salt lick spots for the large deer population 4 Flora and fauna EditFlora Edit The cool and damp canyons provide an ideal habitat for many species of mosses liverworts and ferns On top of the bluffs that form the canyons can be found black oak Quercus velutina red cedar Juniperus virginiana and white oak Quercus alba trees which thrive in the sandy soil The park contains several species generally found farther north such as the Canada yew Taxus canadensis and Canada mayflower Maianthemum canadense 3 Fauna Edit Frogs toads and salamanders live on the canyon floors while bird species such as the cliff swallow nest in the eroded canyon walls 5 As the former name of Deer Park might suggest the area is home to a very large population of white tail deer Recreation EditToday there are five miles of marked hiking trails in addition to nine miles of mountain biking and equestrian trails 6 The Plum Island Eagle Sanctuary is located nearby References Edit U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Matthiessen State Park a b Matthiessen State Park Illinois Department of Natural Resources Archived from the original on September 21 2013 Retrieved July 18 2018 a b c Deer Park Today dnr state il us https web archive org web 20130921054858 http dnr state il us lands Landmgt PARKS R1 mttindex htm Archived from the original on September 21 2013 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help dnr state il us https web archive org web 20130921054858 http dnr state il us lands Landmgt PARKS R1 mttindex htm Archived from the original on September 21 2013 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help dnr state il us https web archive org web 20130921054858 http dnr state il us lands Landmgt PARKS R1 mttindex htm Archived from the original on September 21 2013 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Matthiessen State Park amp oldid 1168340149, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
