The Rock

This huge boulder, located at Washtenaw and Hills streets, is certainly not the only large rock to decorate the University of Michigan campus, but this is the only one that has become so famous, that is referred to merely as the "Rock." Composed of Canadian limestone and deposited at some date in prehistory by a glacier in a gravel pit on Pontiac Trail, this rock was moved to its present location by Eli Gallup in 1932 as a 200th birthday memorial to George Washington. Originally painted gray, the Rock has undergone so many transformations, it is impossible to keep track. During football season, the rock has been a victim of sneak attacks by the denizens of Michigan State and Ohio State Universities who try to paint the rock in their school colors. On a few occasions, they have managed to do so, but more often, the U-M students have guarded the Rock and our school colors. More recently, the Rock paid tribute to those who died on 9-11.