Kent - Kent Falls and CAMA

I think October may be the best month of the year.  The cooler temperatures and colorful foliage make being outside a real treat.

Today we took a field trip to Kent, CT.  We are studying Earth Science this year and there is a great little museum in Kent that has a top-notch geology display.  We had been to the Connecticut Museum of Mining & Mineral Science several years ago and some of the display cases were still under construction.  I tucked it away in the back of my mind as a place to revisit.

The museum is near Kent Falls State Park and you just can't go by these beautiful cascades without stopping.  As a bonus to our Earth Science study, the park website also had an explanation of the geology.  We read the information before we went and noted the features mentioned as we walked.

Potholes in the marble.

Crumbly marble.

After enjoying our walk at the park, we headed over to the Connecticut Antique Machinery Association (CAMA) of which the Mining Museum is part.

The Mining Museum, in addition to a very impressive collection of minerals, has displays that show: the rock cycle, the formation of igneous and metamorphic rocks, explanations of crystal structure and mineral cleavage, and dioramas of mining and quarrying operations in Connecticut.  There is also a whole room devoted to mining and brick-making.  Really, quite impressive in such a small space and beautifully done.

Fluorescent rocks. 
Pictures can't capture how cool these are.

Mine shaft diorama.

Mining exhibits.  Note the collection of bricks for the floor.

Once we completed our tour of the Mining Museum, we ventured out to some of the other buildings.  Truth be told, this is the part of the trip that had Bill excited.

Tractors, tractors, and more tractors.

Where is Mike Mulligan?

Industrial steam engine
(with Lunkenheimer valves - the company my grandfather worked for).

Our one disappointment was that our usual lunch place was closed for renovation.  We usually go to the deli counter at the general store (with the creaky old wooden floors) in Cornwall Bridge.  Some research shows that it will still be general store when it reopens.  I hope they didn't renovate the charming old floors. 

We drove into Kent and found another place to get lunch.  We ate along the river at Housatonic Meadows State Park (although we did have to retreat to the car when the gnats became too much).

A successful field trip for all involved!