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INDIAN GOD ROCK

Indian God Rock is located on the bank of the Allegheny River about 8 miles south of Franklin, Venango Co., PA. The rock is of archaeological importance as it bears some of the few authentic petroglyphs - rock carvings made by Indians, possibly dating back as far as 1200 A.D. The rock served as a landmark to early steamboat travelers. As the boats went by this rock, the ship's officers always called out "Indian God Rock" and the passengers would hurry to the rail to see the curiosity. The rock is 22 feet in height and composed of a hard sandstone with sloping sides.

In 1984, Indian God Rock was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Vandalism, flood waters and ice have virtually obscured the original petroglyphs. The chart shown below was made by Capt. Eastman, U. S. A. in 1853, and published in "Safe Harbor Report No. 1" of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission.

Questions remain unanswered as to who carved the petroglyphs and what they meant to the persons who did the carving. Several factors support the theory of Donald Cadzow, formerly of the State Historical Commission, who suggested that the pictographs are of Algonquian origin.

In the summer of 1749 a French expedition headed by Bienville de Celoron (Pierre J. Celeron) traveled down the Allegheny River and laid claim to the territory for the French. At important locations, lead plates were buried, claiming the lands for the French King. One of the sites selected was the Indian God Rock, and the following entry appears in de Celoron's diary for 3 August 1749: "Buried a lead plate on the south (sic) bank of the Ohio river, four leagues below the Riviere Aux Boeufs (French Creek), opposite a bald mountain and near a large stone on which are many figures crudely engraved."

Many attempts have been made to locate the plate since that time. Indian God Rock and the buried plate have continued to hold interest and mystery for the travelers on the Allegheny River. In recent years a beautiful bike trail has been erected by the Allegheny Valley Trails Association along the banks of the river. Jim Holden, president of the AVTA and Beverly Chiarulli, president of the Pennsylvania Archeological Council, worked with several organizations to obtain funding for the construction of an observation deck which now overlooks this landmark along the AVTA recreational trail.

Many early boatmen along the river would make this a point of landing and carve their names or initials into the rock. During the summers of 2000 and 2001, Joyce Grill-Neidich and Penny Haylett-Minnick led a few groups of volunteers to the site to assist with locating the names on Indian God Rock. Thanks to Sally & Don Sibley, Katy Hosier, Kaycee & Dick Reib, Cliff Minnick, Bob Neidich, Andi & Jamie Neidich, Beth Samosky and Pat & Tom Roberts for their help.

The photos below show some of the inscriptions.

coordinated and transcribed by Penny Haylett-Minnick

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