SANTA CRUZ -- A new exhibit at the Santa Cruz Natural History Museum will highlight the geologic and economic history of Santa Cruz County. "Crystals, Caves & Kilns," which opens to the public Saturday, focuses on marble, limestone and lime and how these local resources shaped one of the region's earliest industries.
Limestone, which is a key ingredient for making cement, was quarried from several sites in Santa Cruz County during the 1800s. Smelted in large kilns heated up to 1,700 degrees by redwood chopped from nearby forests, the limestone was reduced to lime and shipped as far away as the Hawaiian Islands. Marble, which is a harder, crystallized form of limestone, also was mined locally.
While the industry was crucial for Santa Cruz and San Lorenzo Valley residents, both the logging and quarrying had a negative impact on the local landscape. Historic photos illustrate the damage, while current pictures mounted next to them show how nature has begun to heal its wounds and reclaim the landscape.
"This special exhibition is a first for the Museum in that it showcases a little recognized natural resource and the profound effect it has had on the human history of the region," said Frank Perry, a research associate for the museum and the local geologist who designed the exhibit. "I hope people will come away with an appreciation for this natural resource, both for its impact on the history of Santa Cruz County and the impact of marble and limestone today."
Although the last local lime kiln cooled in 1946, limestone remains a valuable commercial commodity.
Lime is found in dozens of different products, Perry said. Lime is the calcium in baking powder, and is also very important in the process of refining sugar.
"It's also used an as additive for blacktop, and is used for making steel," among other things, he said. "The list goes on and on."
The temporary exhibit will feature displays of unique minerals and crystals found in the region. Historical photographs will give visitors a peek at the lime industry, and the men who performed the backbreaking labor of extracting, processing and shipping limestone and its byproducts. The exhibit also will include some of the tools and equipment the laborers used.
Visitors will learn about local caves, including several that are more than a mile long. Although the locations of local caves will not be revealed, to prevent vandalism, photographs and videos will allow people to look inside these formations, and learn some interesting facts.
"The largest cave in California is in Davenport," said Daniel Harder, executive director of the museum.
Interactive activity stations will allow visitors to learn how to identify local rocks and minerals.
The goal of the exhibit is to get people excited about rocks, said Harder.
"When people think about Santa Cruz we want them to think about more than its world-famous surf culture," Harder said. "We want them to consider the historic significance of the marble, limestone and lime that have literally shaped the Santa Cruz we know today, both geographically and historically."
"Crystals, Caves & Kilns will be on display at the Natural History Museum through Feb. 22. After that, it will be moved to the San Lorenzo Valley Museum. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the San Lorenzo Valley Water District, the Friends of the Cowell Lime Works Historical District and the San Lorenzo Valley Museum.
Follow Sentinel correspondent Terri Morgan at www.twitter.com/soquelterri
IF YOU GO
Crystals, Caves & Kilns
WHERE: Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, 1305 E. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
WHEN: Monday through Feb. 22
HOURS: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
ADMISSION: $4 adults, $2 seniors and students, free to children younger than age 18.