Scripture Rocks Heritage Park

Project Details

The Scripture Rocks Heritage Park project, located near Port Barnett in Jefferson County, involved the development and installation of 20 interpretive signs to welcome and educate visitors about the park’s unique historical and cultural features. Dedicated in June 2016 by the Jefferson County History Center, the park offers public access to a 4.5-acre forested hillside containing the largest rock art site known in the United States.

Key features of the park include:

• Engraved Sandstone Boulders: The park contains 64 sandstone boulders engraved by Douglas M. Stahlman circa 1910-1913. These engravings detail his perceptions of religion, personal aspects of his life, and his relationship with the community.
• Altar Rock: The largest boulder, which Stahlman converted into an open-air chapel for community worship and upon which he later built his cabin to write his journal.
• Prehistoric Native American Rock Shelter: Evidence of early human habitation in the area.
• Mid-Nineteenth Century Quarrying Evidence: Historical remnants of quarrying activities in the park.
• Failed Coal Mine: A site of historical mining activity that did not succeed.

The interpretive signs developed for the park provide visitors with detailed information about these features, enhancing their understanding and appreciation of the site’s historical and cultural significance. The signs offer insights into Stahlman’s life and work, the religious and personal context of the engravings, and the broader historical and natural context of the park.

The Lumber Heritage Region contributed $5,000 toward this project, with the Jefferson County Historical Society providing the main matching funds. The total project cost was $10,394. The interpretive signs have made Scripture Rocks Heritage Park an educational and engaging destination for both locals and travelers, inviting exploration and discovery of its unique features.