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This column, carved from 190 million year old Igneous rock, was given to Otterbein College by Professor Emeritus Fred A. Hanawalt, Class of 1913, and his wife, Loretta, to stimulate interest in geology. Mr. Hanawalt taught science at Otterbein from 1920 to 1956.
The specimen is from the Palisades, a majestic rock formation extending along the west shore of the Hudson River from Staten Island, New York City, northward for about 50 miles.
Igneous rocks are crystalline or glassy rocks formed by the cooling and solidification of molten magma under the earth's surface.
The specimen from The Palisades weighs over a ton. During construction heavy equipment and falling debris threaten the safety of the rock; therefore, the crew has moved it to a safe place. Upon completion of the science building, the column will become one of the central pieces of the newly constructed science plaza.