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White Sands National Park
New Mexico
When you first see the White Sands
from the Highway, it just looks like
any other sand dunes. However,
it is not like any other sand dunes!
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The wind mixes outside edges of the pure white gypsum with the desert dirt forming a dirty looking sand.
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Gypsum Sand
As you leave the highway and drive toward the inside of the park, the sand becomes more and more pure white.
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A road is graded out of the sand and is several miles long. It requires regular grading as the winds move the sand over the roadway. Just as a snow storm would cover the roads with snow.
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Once you first see the pure white sand,
you will not believe your eyes.
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If you were to fill one glass jar with sugar, and a different glass jar with White Sand, you would have trouble telling which was which.
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An experience of a lifetime, is to visit the White Sands Park on a full moon night. The pure white sand reflects the light and it is almost like day time. You can actually read a book or newspaper because it is so light.
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I first visited the White Sands Park more than 55 years ago when I was a young boy. I can remember the first time I took my shoes off and walked on the cool sand, just as though it was yesterday. I have been back many, many times since then and to this day, I believe that it is one of the most wonderful places in the world, second only to the
Carlsbad Caverns of New Mexico.
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Yucca Plant In The Sand
On the outer edges of the park, the Yucca Cactus plants thrive. Their roots may go as deep as seventy or eighty feet as they search for moisture that has been retained in the sand.
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If you scoop up the sand with both hands and then let it run out between your fingers, it feels just like sugar. However, you don't want to put it on your cereal or other food because gypsum is very bitter. You discover that fact the first time you surf down the side of one of the steep hills and take a spill. YUK!
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The Desert Rain
Just after a desert rain, a crust is formed on top of the sand where the gypsum has bonded together just like cement. However, the wind, animals and people will soon restore the top layer to a very fine sand again and again.
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Water Marks In The Sand
Little Insect Trails
First thing in the morning, you can find all kinds of prints in the sand that were left by bugs, (big bugs), snakes, dogs and other creatures.
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Beauty By Nature
You owe it to yourself to visit New Mexico and take in The White Sands National Park, and while you are in New Mexico, take an extra day and swing over to the Carlsbad Caverns. You will also find information and pictures of the Carlsbad Caverns on this website. Just click on the little "C" to the left and then click on Carlsbad Caverns.
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And So Ends Another Day
This website is provided by
The Conger Street Clock Museum
The Conger Street Clock Tower
This clock tower mechanism was built about 1780 and the
pendulum is 13 feet long. It takes almost 4 seconds
for the pendulum to complete one cycle.
This old clock tower mechanism is just one of the many
time related items you will find in this museum.
Click on the 1949 Firetruck to visit the
Conger Street Clock Museum
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Creative Clock
at
The Conger Street Clock Museum
of Eugene, Oregon
was the
Featured story of the
July/August 1990
Watch & Clock Review
Vol. 57, No. 7
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The Conger Street Clock Museum
730 Conger Street
Eugene, Oregon 97402
STORE HOURS
Monday - Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Phone 541-344-6359 Fax 541-338-0869
Creative Clock, PO Box 2100, Eugene, Oregon 97402
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