Stonehenge

This photograph captures a very different experience of visiting Stonehenge than what travelers experience today. Taken before the modern barriers and greater visitor restrictions were added, it reflects a time when visitors could stand much closer to the ancient stones and to one of the world’s most mysterious prehistoric sites.

The monument is so iconic that you feel as though you already know it before arriving, yet standing there in person creates a different experience. The sheer size of the stones, the open landscape, and the silence surrounding them give the site a powerful presence.

Located on Salisbury Plain in southern England, Stonehenge was built in stages beginning more than 4,000 years ago. Exactly how prehistoric people transported and raised these enormous stones remains one of history’s mysteries. Some of the bluestones were brought from Wales, over 150 miles away, making the achievement even more remarkable.

Over the centuries, Stonehenge has inspired endless theories and interpretations. What akde our visit meaningful was that our family had the opportunity to stand in places connected to ancient human history. Stonehenge reaches back into a time before recorded history itself. It reminds us how long human beings have searched for meaning, spirituality, connection to nature and understanding of the cosmos.

Stonehenge leaves an impression because of its mystery. Even after thousands of years, it still refuses to fully give up its secrets.