NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Saint-Gaudens National Historic Park, New Hampshire

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Geodiversity refers to the full variety of natural geologic (rocks, minerals, sediments, fossils, landforms, and physical processes) and soil resources and processes that occur in the park. A product of the Geologic Resources Inventory, the NPS Geodiversity Atlas delivers information in support of education, Geoconservation, and integrated management of living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of the ecosystem.

Garden and view of Mount Ascutney.

Introduction

Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park (SAGA) is situated along the Connecticut River just north of the city of Cornish in Sullivan County, New Hampshire. Established on May 30, 1977, SAGA contains approximately 77 hectares (190 acres) and preserves the home, studios, and gardens of renowned artist Augustus Saint-Gaudens and commemorates his contributions to the cultural development of the United States (National Park Service 2016a). Augustus Saint-Gaudens was America’s foremost sculptor during the late 1800s and early 1900s, but he also served as a teacher and advocate who cultivated other artists and brought international recognition to American art (National Park Service 2015b). Saint-Gaudens helped establish the Cornish Colony, an artist community best known for modernizing and applying classical European artistic and architectural styles in America. The park is a living memorial to Saint-Gaudens, featuring more than 120 original sculptures and the largest collection of his work in the world.

Geologic Setting

Situated in the Connecticut River Valley of the New England physiographic province of New Hampshire, the bedrock geology of the Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park region is comprised of Paleozoic-age strata spanning from the Ordovician through the Devonian. The bedrock underlying SAGA consists entirely of metasedimentary rocks representing the Silurian–Devonian Waits River Formation and Devonian Gile Mountain Formation. Interbedded schist, phyllite, quartzite, and impure limestone or marble of the Waits River Formation occur in the western half of the park (Walsh 2015; Walsh et al. 2020). Mapped beneath the eastern portion of SAGA, including Saint-Gaudens’ home, studios, and gardens, the Gile Mountain Formation predominantly consists of quartzite and granofels (metamorphic rocks without distinct foliation or lineation) interbedded with slate, phyllite, or schist (Walsh 2015; Walsh et al. 2020).

Regional Geology

Saint-Gaudens National Historic Park is a part of the New England Physiographic Province and shares its geologic history and some characteristic geologic formations with a region that extends well beyond park boundaries.

Geologic Resources Inventory

The Geologic Resources Inventory produces digital geologic maps and reports for more than 270 natural resource parks. The products listed below are currently available for this park, check back often for updates as many maps, reports, and posters are still in progress.

Scoping summaries are records of scoping meetings where NPS staff and local geologists determined the park’s geologic mapping plan and what content should be included in the report.

• Digital geologic maps include files for viewing in GIS software, a guide to using the data, and a document with ancillary map information. Newer products also include data viewable in Google Earth and online map services.
• Reports use the maps to discuss the park’s setting and significance, notable geologic features and processes, geologic resource management issues, and geologic history.
• Posters are a static view of the GIS data in PDF format. Newer posters include aerial imagery or shaded relief and other park information. They are also included with the reports.
• Projects list basic information about the program and all products available for a park.

Source: NPS DataStore Saved Search 3163. To search for additional information, visit the NPS DataStore.

Soil Resources inventory

A NPS Soil Resources Inventory project has been completed for Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site and can be found on the NPS Data Store.

Source: NPS DataStore Saved Search 3114. To search for additional information, visit the NPS DataStore.

Pond on park boundary—Blow Me Down Pond.

Related Links

Saint-Gaudens—Natural Features and Ecosystems

Saint-Gaudens—Glaciers and Glacier Features

Saint-Gaudens—Seeps and Springs

Saint-Gaudens—Photo Gallery

Saint-Gaudens—Park Home

NPS—Geologic Time

NPS—Explore Regional Geology

NPS—Geology

New Hampshire Geological Survey

Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

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National Park Service Geodiversity Atlas

The servicewide Geodiversity Atlas provides information on geoheritage and geodiversity resources and values within the National Park System. This information supports science-based geoconservation and interpretation in the NPS, as well as STEM education in schools, museums, and field camps. The NPS Geologic Resources Division and many parks work with National and International geoconservation communities to ensure that NPS abiotic resources are managed using the highest standards and best practices available.

NPS Geodiversity Atlas

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