The Minnesota Roadside Attraction Exposed for Lying to You

Minnesota has lots of great roadside attractions, historical markers, and scenic overlooks, but one of them is lying to you, and it should be corrected.

Minnesota is home to many things that can be considered the biggest, oldest, or most unique of their kind in the world, like the world's largest ball of twine or the world's largest freshwater lake. However, one marker put up years ago is most likely wrong.

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The "World's Oldest Rock" Marker in Granite Falls

The roadside historical marker, located in Granite Falls, states that it is the location of the "World's Oldest Rock." The sign claims that the site, on the northeast corner of Hwy 67 and Hwy 23, is the "Site of some of the oldest exposed rock in the world. Geologists estimate this granitic gneiss was formed 3,800,000,000 years ago."

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It turns out the rock is old, but the claim of it being the oldest rock in the world is likely false. According to ScienceNews.org, the sign, erected in 1975, is inaccurate, and the oldest known rock is now believed to be located in Canada.

Canadian Acasta Gneiss, found in the Northwest Territories, currently holds the record. It is estimated to have formed about 4 billion years ago.

Minnesota's Morton Gneiss Might Not Even Be America's Oldest

ScienceNews.org also points out that Minnesota's Morton Gneiss might not even be the oldest rock in America. Some scientists believe the site's age is "overstated by at least 300 million years," and that Michigan’s Watersmeet Gneiss is likely older.

At the time, the sign was likely put up using the best information available. However, a lot has changed since 1975, and much more is known now. It might be time for the marker to be updated to reflect current knowledge.

Regardless of whether it holds the record or not, it is still pretty incredible that you can touch something more than 3 billion years old right here in Minnesota.