By visiting Blackhand Gorge Nature Preserve, you can trace Ohio’s long history of transportation.
Native Americans navigated the Licking River for centuries before the arrival of European settlers. There is a cliff made of Blackhand sandstone rising on the north side of the Licking River. In prehistoric times, Native Americans inscribed a petroglyph on this cliff; it looked like a very large, black hand. Not only is the gorge named after this petroglyph, but the class of erosion-resistant sandstone on which the petroglyph appeared has become known as “Blackhand sandstone” throughout Ohio.
Early settlers also used the waterway, eventually modifying it for barge traffic in the early 1800′s. This portion of the Licking River was incorporated into the Ohio & Erie Canal. Canal engineers removed the outer surface of the cliff to make room for a tow path. During the canal era, mules or oxen walking on such a path would pull barges along. Sadly the petroglyph was destroyed to make room for this tow path.
This is the cliff that gave Blackhand sandstone its name.
The masonry making up the barge tow path can still be seen at the bottom of the cliff.
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Bob Platt
Deb Platt
