Trail of the Shadows: Rusty Springs Exhibit Panel

This historic mineral spring is named "Iron Mike" for its reddish iron-rich mineral water.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Trail of the Shadows, Longmire

Amenities

1 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Title: Rusty Springs

Main Text

Water flowing down the nearby stream and water rising up through this mineral spring both originate high above the meadow from snowmelt and rainfall. 

From the upper slopes, water percolates through the earth's crust into the mountain. Geothermal heat, supplied by magma deep within the mountain, warms the water. The hot water travels underground through cracks. It eventually mixes with shallow, cold groundwater before it reappears above ground at the spring. 

Hot water dissolves iron as it circulates past underground rocks. Iron oxidizes (rusts) when it is exposed to the air and the resulting iron oxy-hydroxides deposit a reddish pigment along the spring channel. 
 

Secondary Text
This enclosed spring is historically known as "Iron Mike", and its reddish pigment was referred to as "mineral paint". 

Taking advantage of the existence of these minerals, James Longmire filed a placer (mining) claim to assert the prescence of his early settlement. In 1892, he was awarded a patent for 18.2 acres of land that included the adjacent meadow and most of its mineral springs. 
 

Exhibit Panel Description
A historic black and white photo of the Iron Mike mineral spring fills the exhibit panel. The spring is surrounded by a low circular wall that is framed by a larger horse-shoe-shaped stone wall cut into the hillside. Water drips out of the circular spring, flowing over three concrete steps and down an angled dirt slope towards the bottom of the photo frame. The hillside around the spring is surrounded by trees. One tree has a wooden sign nailed to it reading "Trail of the Shadows" with an arrow pointing left. In the lower right corner of the panel is inset a smaller color photo showing a detail of the reddish-orange spring water with the the secondary text placed below the photo against a black background. 

Visit This Exhibit Panel
This exhibit panel is located in Longmire along the Trail of the Shadows, a short trail that starts across the street from the National Park Inn. Longmire is open year-round.