The Great Seal State Park in Ohio
While many whom haven’t had the luxury of visiting some of the wilderness that is to be found in the state of Ohio, those who do take the time to visit one of the state’s most prestigious and prominent parks, the Great Seal Park, often leave with a sense of wonder and bewilderment. When we think of Ohio, we rarely think of nature, wilderness, mountain ranges, or any of the other numerous natural wonders that can be found within its’ borders. Great Seal State Park is located in the Scioto River Valley, north of Cincinnati. The park is comprised of sandstone hills which form the Appalachian escarpment. These hills form a line that stretches across Ohio sketching out the Appalachian plateau. There is plenty for visitors to do and see; a fifteen-site campground serves as a more than adequate place to set camp combining rugged outdoor survival, along with a number of the luxuries of modern living. Also, with over twenty miles of trails, hikers and nature enthusiasts will be able to keep busy enjoying the vast and beautiful landscape. While quite small as of now (1862 acres of land, 2 acres of water/wetland, and 900 acres of nearby wildlife) the park is a very important part of cultural and natural history of the North American continent.
Background/History
The earliest settlers of the Ohio region were the mound-building people that lived in the area 2000-3000 years ago. The Hopewell culture, perhaps the very first to inhabit the area, created a series of mound cities that held spiritual significance as a sort of “City of the Dead.” More recently, the Shawnee (prior to the white man’s theft of the land) were the last indigenous people to inhabit the land. The Shawnee built towns and utilized the Scioto River as their primary means of transportation. The Shawnee people inhabited the area from the late 17th century to the mid 18th century when they were pushed out of their native land by the Iroquois. Although for the most part they were considered migratory, the Shawnee did establish three towns within the Scioto River Valley, all named Chillicothe. After having been relocated by the Iroquois, the Shawnee returned to their rightful home later on in the 18th century-only to be pushed out again in the 1800’s by the United States government. Currently, there are approximately only 1,400 remaining Shawnee tribesman/woman left in existence today. The preservation of their homeland and legacy is essential in the creation of the Great Seal National Park.
After the Shawnee were conveniently sorted out of the area-it was the perfect opportunity for white settlers to exert their dominance over the land. The first settlers moved into the area around 1790. In 1796, General Nathaniel Massie organized and settled the area of the Scioto River Valley (despite the fact it had already been inhabited) and cultivated and “modernized” (for the time) the city of Chillicothe. The city later went on to become the capitol of the new state of Ohio from 1803-1810.
The park represents an important part of the history of the indigenous peoples, as well as the history to the statehood of Ohio itself. In fact, the park is named “Great Seal” State Park due to depiction of the many landscape treasures within the park that are embedded in the state emblem. It is said that when the three “founding-fathers” (using this term loosely because they didn’t really find anything, they stole it) were designing the state emblem for the newly established Ohio, they witnessed the sun rising over Mount Logan in what is now Great Seal State Park, and this provided the inspiration to include the rolling hills, mountains, and Scioto River (all found within the park) in the state’s emblem.
Ecology
There is a plethora of natural wonders to be found within Great Seal State Park. When one travels on one of its many paths or trails, you have the privilege of seeing hundreds of different plant species, or many different types of animals native to the area. Birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and mollusks can all be found within the park. Not to mention a variety of plant species.
The best way to view the diverse wildlife at Great Seal State Park is to go along many of the trails and see them in their natural habitat. The park provides residence for a large number of species of animals, as well as a resting stop for migrating birds on their long journeys. Some of the most intriguing animals of North America can be found in the Great Seal Park, including the only marsupial found within the continent. This diverse wildlife has been subject to the urban sprawl and loss of habitat that has become commonplace throughout the past decades. It is imperative that we intervene on the side of preserving the land not only for cultural reasons, but as a means of reversing our own path of destruction.
One of the many animals that call the Great Seal State Park home happens to be the Virginia Opossum. This creature is unique because it is the only one of its kind found in North America. Since these animals are nocturnal and sleep through most of the day, visitors probably won’t see them; however, if you’re lucky you can spot their tracks in the mud. The uniqueness of Virginia opossum tracks is that they show the animal’s apparent opposable thumb. The Virginia opossum also happens to be a creature that is seeing an expansion in numbers-rather than a decrease.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the Virginia opossum is its method of defense. When approached by a predator, the Virginia Opossum will faint and “play dead,” thus coining the term, “playing opossum.” The creature actually goes into a near-coma state which can last up to four hours. Its heart beat will decrease immensely, its tongue will hang out of its mouth, and a green fluid will ooze out of its anus. This method of defense works rather well in warding off predators who are not interested in eating already dead organisms, as well as giving the impression to other animals that the Virginia Opossum is not an imminent threat. However, this does not mean the animal is harmless, in fact, if the threat is serious enough the Virginia opossum has claws and 50 excruciatingly sharp teeth to fight back with.
Another-perhaps more viewer friendly animal found within the park is the scarlet tanager, a medium sized songbird that makes its habitat in the large oak trees. The adult males are a bright red with black wings and tail. The females, on the other hand, are quite different. The female underbody is yellowish, while the top is olive-with brown wings and tail. Although they can sometimes be seen when out searching for insects, scarlet tanagers prefer the forest interior for protection from predators and nest parasitism. Unfortunately, there numbers have been declining throughout North America due to deforestation. Therefore, it is essential that we preserve what is lest of their natural habitat in America’s heartland.
Animals are not the only natural wonders to be gazed upon in your ventures through the Great Seal State Park, but also a large quantity of plant species. The park consists of a variety of river-plants, hardwoods, grasses, and wildflowers. The plant life is truly exquisite and not what you’d expect in a place such as Ohio. Chestnut oaks can be found alongside the slope of the hills, while sugar maples found up at the top. The plant life truly is a marvelous sight to see and to enjoy for hikers and nature enthusiasts alike.
Although not a terribly large tree, the chestnut oak plays an important role in the ecosystem. The tree itself provides shade, protection, and a safe habitat for a number of animals; and its acorns provide a source of food for smaller rodent species as well. The chestnut oak trees can be found along the slope of the hills, this is unique because this is unorthodox for natural occurring chestnut oaks, but a result of the shifting rock strata underneath. They usually grow somewhere between 20-30 meters, but in optimal conditions can grow another 10-15 meters higher.
Another example of vegetation found within the park is the sugar maple. The sugar maple is another prominent species of hardwood that makes up a large portion of the deciduous forests of eastern North America. The sugar maple is found on the crests of the hills in the park and can grow as high as 37 meters tall on average. The trees supply ample shade and protection, as well as nesting grounds, for a number of animals. They also can be tapped for maple syrup. In the fall, the sugar maple leaves turn to a brilliant display of reds, yellows, and oranges that look like a fire in the sky-truly something to be enjoyed while touring the park.
Some of the plant life in the Great Seal Park has to be protected and preserved. A number of species of plant life or becoming endangered and need our help if we want to save them. The running buffalo clover is a perennial clover that is found in the Midwestern and Eastern United States. The plant depends greatly on the natural disturbances of large grazing animals for its survival. The lack thereof, particularly with the decline of the American buffalo, has resulted in a decline in the number of running buffalo clovers. Historical records of the plant show that their numbers have decreased directly in proportion to the buffalo. There are other causes for the decline in R.B.C. as well, such as human disturbance and competition from exotic species brought into the park.
On the notion of endangered and threatened species, there are a number of plant and animal species on the lists that make Great Seal State Park their home. These include the Bald Eagle, Eastern Puma, and the Scioto madtom amongst others. The Ohio Wildlife Center works hard with state park services to try and preserve, as well as reinvigorate the numbers of these animals. Deforestation and human interference have already brought about a significant cost to the environment, and only by reversing these some of the devastative mistakes of the past can we save this precious area.
By making the Great Seal a National Park, we will be able to bring about federal protection status to the variety of endangered and threatened species (both wildlife and plant). Also, it would mean that a federal budget would be allocated to park services, wildlife management, and a variety of other services that are currently withheld from the park. Upon deeming the park “National” status, it will be a great victory for nature and those whom appreciate it.
Geology
The geology of Great Seal State Park is quite unique. The majority of the park is comprised of the sandstone hills that line up to form the edge of the Allegheny Plateau. To the north and west lies the glaciated plains, and to the south and east the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The park itself lies on what is called an escarpment.
An escarpment is the zone between areas of differentiating elevations, which often times involves high cliffs and ridges. This geological makeup is seen throughout Great Seal State Park, and has become its most famous feature. Escarpments are generally transitions from one type of sedimentary rock to another; causing erosion action by the newer rock, over the older. The majority of the underlying rock is sandstone, which is also apparent in the historical upheaval of the surrounding hills. As far as rain goes, the park usually receives roughly 2.87 in. of rain per month, and has an average yearly temperature of 50.8 degrees Fahrenheit.
Summary/Conclusion
While there are numerous areas within the United States that perhaps deserve National Park status, not all of them can claim the natural, historical, and cultural importance that Great Seal State Park can. There are many reasons to designate the fine land of Great Seal State Park as a National park, from the remnants of ancient indigenous people to the beautiful, endangered wildlife and plant life to be found within its borders. The Great Seal State Park has a bounty of reasons that make it suitable to be America’s next National Park.
The park not only has historical/biological relevance, but is also one of the few natural landscapes that have yet to be touched significantly by the hands of human interference and capitalism. Nowadays, it’s near impossible for people to escape the burdens of city modern society and escape to nature. Great Seal State Park offers numerous opportunities for visitors to experience the American Midwest in a way they never could before. It allows an escape for people to hunt, fish, hike, bike, picnic, golf, and simply enjoy nature in a traditional North American setting. If Federal involvement doesn’t come soon, the future may not leave much for the public to enjoy.
With this in mind, it has become imperative that the Federal government of the United States needs to step in and take action. Although this government has a history of destroying the land and acting in contrast to indigenous people and the environment, it has a duty now to reverse some of it’s horrid past mistakes and do what is right and responsible. There are a number of very good reasons to ratify Great Seal State Park as a national park, which one prescribes to you is completely subjective. There are, however, truly great reasons that this land should receive the benefits of being a national park. It is important for us as human beings to preserve that which we have intentionally destroyed. White America transplanted the Shawnee Indians to near extinction; capitalism has rendered the land useless and deforested. We’re not talking about stepping in to stop a natural degeneration of nature, but a human disruption to the natural balance of the ecosystem. Now we have the chance to make up for our past, and make up for our solicitations and molestations of nature-and this chance is the designation of Great Seal State Park as a national park.
Sources
“Great Seal State Park.” (2004). Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved April 9, 2005 from http://www.ohiodnr.com/parks/parks/grtseal.htm.
