The Rock (University of Michigan)

The Rock
George Washington Park
Location	Hill St and Washtenaw Ave Ann Arbor, Michigan
Coordinates	42°16′21.0″N83°43′42.6″W / 42.272500°N 83.728500°W / 42.272500; -83.728500
Opened	1932 (1932)

The Rock is a boulder in Ann Arbor, Michigan, near the campus of the University of Michigan, which is regularly painted with messages by students. The Rock was first painted in the 1950s, and continues to be repainted regularly.

The Rock was installed in 1932 at the personal direction of Eli Gallup, longtime Ann Arbor parks superintendent and namesake of Gallup Park. The Rock was initially placed in honor of George Washington's 200th birthday, and the yet-unnamed small triangular parcel holding the rock was officially named George Washington Park in 1993. ^[1]

History

Eli Gallup, Ann Arbor parks superintendent from 1919 to 1961, ^[2] was fond of large boulders, and he personally designated the installation of multiple particularly attractive boulders in city parks. One such boulder, a glacial erratic, was found in the city gravel pit on Pontiac Trail, which would later become Olson Park. The limestone rock bore deep scratches from the movement of the glaciers that deposited it, and Gallup saw it fit for installation in a city park. ^[1]

The triangular plot of land at Washtenaw Ave and Hill St, to become George Washington Park, was donated to the City of Ann Arbor in 1911 by dentist Louis Hall. Hall feared that a gas station would be constructed on the land, and wanted to ensure that the land remained undeveloped. ^[1]

The Rock and the land were united in February 1932, when a crew of WPA workers with two trucks and a trailer moved the rock across town to the park site. The rock was christened in memory of George Washington, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of his birth. Eli Gallup's son Al Gallup, who witnessed the installation of the rock at the age of seven, believed that his father cared far more about the rock itself than the symbolism of George Washington. ^[3] Nonetheless, the city council and the local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter were convinced, and both provided funding for the transportation of the rock. ^[4] A copper plaque, made of material personally scavenged by Gallup from city landfills, was installed in 1939. The plaque was cast by industrial arts students at Ann Arbor's University High School, including Eli Gallup's son Bill. ^[4]

The Rock was first painted in the mid-1950s, when a group of visiting Michigan State students painted their school's initials and colors on the day of the rivalry football game. Michigan students quickly countered by repainting the rock with profanities and the names of fraternities. The parks department initially attempted to remove the paint, but soon relented, and has permitted the practice for decades. ^{[1] [5]}

In 1982, Michigan State student Brian Durrance chipped the paint off the Rock, confirming that the copper plaque commemorating George Washington was still in place. Clearing the Rock of paint took two days, and additional coats were applied shortly afterwards. ^[1] The Rock has been continually repainted since, with the paint reaching a thickness of up to 5 in (13 cm) in 2010. ^[6]

Opposition to the painting has been present since the practice began. In 1993, the city considered rapidly removing the Rock after a large number of complaints, but ultimately decided to keep the Rock in place. In an attempt to clean up the Rock's reputation, the then-unnamed parcel of land was officially designated as George Washington Park, and a sign was installed with rules for would-be painters. ^[7]

During the 1993 investigations, the city commissioned a study of the soil around the Rock, expecting it to be heavily contaminated, but no significant contamination was found. ^[5] A 2010 investigation by The Michigan Daily found that the city had previously attempted to keep the sidewalks near the Rock clear of paint, at a cost of over $2,500 per year, but stopped after finding it futile. ^[8]

Notable messages

The Rock was painted with the slogan "Spartan Strong" after the 2023 Michigan State University shooting, which remained for multiple days. ^[9]

The Rock was set on fire on the evening of January 8, 2024. The fire at the Rock was one of 17 set in celebration after the Wolverines football victory over Washington in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship. ^[10]

References

1. Shackman, Grace (September 1991). "The Rock". Ann Arbor Observer. Retrieved 2024-01-09– via Ann Arbor District Library.
2. "Retired Parks Department Head, Eli Gallup, Dies At Age Of 73". The Ann Arbor News. June 25, 1964. p. 21 – via NewsBank.
3. Ann Arbor History -- "The Rock" at Washtenaw and Hill, 1932. Washtenaw County Historical Society. 2011. Retrieved 2024-01-10– via YouTube.
4. Lucas-Myers, Gregory (February 2023). "History Lessons: The Rock at Washtenaw and Hill". Michigan Alum. University of Michigan Alumni Association. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
5. "George Washington Park (The Rock)". City of Ann Arbor. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
6. Wainwright, Sam (February 2, 2010). "Leave no stone unturned: My quest to discover just how much paint is on The Rock". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
7. Leif Bates, Erik (August 18, 1993). "Rules, park name aim to peel Rock's notoriety". The Ann Arbor News. p. D1 – via NewsBank.
8. Veeck, Robin (September 19, 2010). "For city officials and residents, The Rock is a financial and visual sore". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
9. King, Nick (February 18, 2023). "Michigan State, U-M basketball honors victims in MSU's first game since tragedy: Photos from Ann Arbor". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
10. Kovanis, Georgea; Petzold, Evan; Dolan, Matthew; Beddingfield, Duante (January 9, 2024). "Michigan fans bask in championship win, as firefighters extinguish multiple small fires". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2024-01-10.

See also

• The Rock (Michigan State University)