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Monolithic Columns EarthCache

Hidden : 1/30/2016
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   other (other)

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Geocache Description:

What does monolithic even mean? It means formed of a single large block of stone. So, see those columns at the north and south side of the Boone County Courthouse? Yep, they each are an enormous block of Indiana limestone. Wow, that's big! And with this earthcache, you will learn why this is even possible.


The Boone County Courthouse is located in Lebanon and is situated in the Court House Square. The present Courthouse was completed and dedicated July 4, 1912.

The three-story structure is construced of granite and Indiana limestone and is Neo-classical in style. From the center of the roof rises a windowed, octagonal stone foundation for the glass dome which is surmounted by the clock tower.

The mounumental central portico on the south facade has four smooth dressed Ionic columns, each of which is 35 feet 5.5 inches in height, 48 inches in diameter at the case and 40 inches at the top. Each column weighs approximately 30 tons.

The eight monolithic limestone columns, (4 on the northside and 4 on the southside), are the largest turned columns in the United States. Also, the 52-foot diameter art glass dome is the second largest in the state, exceeded only by the dome of West Baden Springs Hotel.

The Boone County Courthouse is thought to be the only public building in the world that is bisected by a principal meridain line. The second principal meridan line passes through the center of the courthouse and is marked by a tablet, consisitng of an arrow in white and black marble tiles, the the words "Meridian Line" in bronze letters.

Indiana Limestone

The adaptability of Indiana limestone for every kind of building work has called for its use in great columns in all parts of the country. In fact, it is the only building stone to be used in all 50 states!! Indiana limestone is a free stone, meaning that it does not break along bedding, can be machined on a lathe, or ornately carved like marble. With uniform texture and grade, it has world-wide recognitoin as a premium dimension stone.

The blocks of limestone that were used here measured 37 feet in length when they were cut from a quarry of J. Hoadley and Sons Co. at Stinesville, Indiana. They arrived in Lebanon by train. The were machined to the current size.

So why is Indiana Limestone preferred?

Indiana limestone is a common regional term for Salem limestone, a geological formation primarily quarried in south central Indiana, United States, between Bloomington and Bedford, including Stinesville.

It has been noted to have the highest quality quarried limestone in the United States. Salem limestone, like all limestone, is a rock primarily formed of calcium carbonate. The limestone was deposited over millions of years as marine fossils decomposed at the bottom of a shallow inland sea which covered most of the present-day Midwestern United States during the Mississippian Period.

Indiana limestone is part of a high-end market. It is mostly used on the exterior of homes and commercial buildings. With the impact of acid rain it is not used in monuments as it was in the 19th century. The Salem Formation for this area is exceptionally deep at over 90 feet thick in some areas. This makes it a prime building limestone because of its extreme durability. It made it possible for very large columns to be produced from the thick formation in Stinesville.

Indiana Limestone is also very good for carving. It accepts and retains very fine detail. Many famous carvers moved to southern Indiana and began to change their medium to limestone. Their work can be seen on many buildings, gravestones, memorials, and other carvings.

 

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Logging Requirements

1. What color is the limestone used for the columns?

2. Since the columns are one piece of stone, they are extremely heavy. Do you see any cracking at the base of the columns?

3. Look at the carvings at the top of the building. Do they seem faded or clear?

4. Post a picture of yourself (face not required) or a personal item near the columns.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)