- Palestine Park
Palestine Park is located on the grounds of
Chautauqua Institution inChautauqua, New York . The park is ascale model of theHoly Land , including cities, hills, rivers, and seas in approximately correct geographical location. Palestine Park is laid out along the western side ofChautauqua Lake , which takes the place of theMediterranean Sea . This creates a 'mirror-image' of the actual land, which is on the east coast of the Mediterranean. A large mound of stones representsMount Hermon , with an artificial stream representing theJordan River as it flows south from theSea of Galilee to theDead Sea . Small hills represent biblical landmarks such as Mount Tabor and theMount of Olives , with markers representing sites of biblical significance including Jacob's Well,Jericho ,Bethsaida andJerusalem .The park is a
contributing property in the Chautauqua Institution Institution Historic District.The park was one of Chautauqua's first landmarks. In 1874, Chautauqua founder Rev.
John Heyl Vincent gave his friend Dr. W. W. Wythe the task of laying out Palestine Park as a visual aid for teachingbiblical history and geography to theSunday School teachers that were Chautauqua's first visitors. The park has been reconstructed many times over the years. The present Palestine Park is 350 feet long with a scale of 1.75 feet to the mile.There are educational guided tours through the park each Sunday and Monday evening at 7 p.m. (weather permitting) during Chautauqua's nine-week summer season.
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