Welcome to Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve, a place where history and nature intertwine. This 956-acre preserve, located near Heath, Ohio, has a rich past shaped by both natural forces and human activity. The gorge itself was carved by the Licking River through the Black Hand Sandstone, but its name comes from a mysterious Native American petroglyph, a black hand, once etched into the cliff face. This symbol, lost to time during the construction of the Ohio and Erie Canal in 1828, was thought to convey a message of peace to tribes passing through.
In the early 19th century, the area became a pivotal route for transportation and trade. The Ohio and Erie Canal, completed in the late 1820s, and later the Central Ohio Railroad, which saw its first train pass through the gorge in 1851, connected the region to larger markets and communities, fostering economic growth.
The Blackhand Gorge also witnessed the introduction of the interurban railroad in 1903, which linked nearby towns like Granville, Newark, and Zanesville until its closure in 1929. This period marked a time of bustling activity, as goods and people moved through the gorge, shaping the local economy and culture.
In 1975, recognizing its natural beauty and historical significance, the State of Ohio established the Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve. Today, visitors can explore its scenic trails and take a walk back in time, witnessing remnants of the canal locks and the rail tunnel, silent testimonies to an era of rapid industrial change.
Not just a natural wonder, Blackhand Gorge is a testament to the intersection of human ingenuity and the natural world. As you explore, imagine the stories of those who traversed this landscape long before us, leaving their marks in both stone and history.
