Lincoln Woods State Park
| Lincoln Woods State Park | |
| Rhode Island State Park | |
 | |
| Named for: Abraham Lincoln | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Rhode Island |
| County | Providence |
| Town | Lincoln |
| Elevation | 308 ft (94 m) [1] |
| Coordinates | 41°53′55″N 71°25′53″W / 41.89861°N 71.43139°WCoordinates: 41°53′55″N 71°25′53″W / 41.89861°N 71.43139°W [1] |
| Area | 627 acres (254 ha) [2] |
| Dedicated | 1909 |
| Management | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Parks & Recreation |
  Location in Rhode Island
| |
| Website: Lincoln Woods State Park | |
Lincoln Woods State Park is a 627-acre (254 ha) state park surrounding Olney Pond in the town of Lincoln, Rhode Island, 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of Pawtucket.[3] The park is known for its many giant glacial boulders and the stony nature of its terrain which prevented most of the parkland from being used as farmland or for other development.
History
Named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln, the park traces its origins to the state's purchase of Quinsnicket Pond and 71 additional acres in 1908. It had its official founding on the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, February 12, 1909.[2] Until the 1940s, the park was popularly known as Quinsnicket, a faux Indian name commonly said to mean something like The Domain of Many Rocks. Quinsnicket was actually a name invented by white settlers, and the original Indian name for the area was Caucaunjaivatchuck.[4]
Activities and amenities
The park offers a freshwater beach, extensive picnicking facilities, trails for equestrians, mountain bikers, snowmobilers, and hikers, boating, ice skating, and fishing areas and game fields. Kayak rentals and kayaking lessons are offered by a concessionaire.[2] The park is also known for bouldering, a type of rock climbing that does not utilize ropes or harnesses.[5]
In popular culture
The park was a favorite haunt of the author H.P. Lovecraft, who spent summer days walking in the park and writing long letters recording vivid accounts of the park's landscape and ambiance.[6] In 2011, part of the film Moonrise Kingdom was filmed at the park.[7]
References
- 1 2 "Lincoln Woods State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
- 1 2 3 "Lincoln Woods State Park History". State of Rhode Island Division of Parks & Recreation. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
- ↑ "Lincoln Woods State Park". State of Rhode Island Division of Parks & Recreation. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
- ↑ Thomas Williams Bicknell. The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (Volume 5). ISBN 1152956353.
- ↑ "Lincoln Woods". Mountain Project. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Quinsnicket Park by H.P. Lovecraft". Hearthside House Museum. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
- ↑ "Upcoming filming locations for ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ in Rhode Island". OLV. May 1, 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
External links
- Lincoln Woods State Park Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Parks & Recreation