Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Petrosomatoglyphs: Dinosaur Footprints at Wisteriahurst - Holyoke, MA

Dinosaur Footprints at Wisteriahurst
Holyoke, MA


N 42° 12.314 W 072° 37.029



Quick Description: 

The walkways surrounding the entrance to the Wisteriahurst at 238 Cabot Street in Holyoke, MA, is lined with quarried slaps containing dinosaur footprints.

Long Description:

Belle Skinner, the daughter of silk manufacturer William Skinner, paved the walkways of Wisteriahurst, the family estate, with quarried brownstone slabs that contain ripple marks and many dinosaur footprints. The slabs were obtained from quarries in the Connecticut River Valley and contain the footprints of the Eubrontes species of dinosaur.

The Skinner family owned the estate until 1959 when the youngest child of William and Sarah Skinner, Katharine Skinner Kilborne, gave Wistariahurst to the City of Holyoke for cultural and educational purposes. It is now the home of Holyoke Museum of Natural History and Art.

No sign identified the dinosaur footprints. They are intentionally left to be discovered by visitors. On occasion, the Wisteriahurst will hold special educational programs that feature these footprints.

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