Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a prehistoric megalithic monument in county Wiltshire in England. The large stone circle is predated by a surrounding ditch and bank earthworks. The site is owned by the Crown and managed by English Heritage, a public body which maintains England's ancient monuments. The surrounding land is owned by the National Trust, the conservation organization which works "to preserve and protect the coastline, countryside, and buildings of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland."

After years of seeing pictures of Stonehenge and reading about the mystery surrounding it, I was thrilled for the opportunity to visit the site in person. What I found was both more and less than I had expected. It was huge. It's hard to judge the true size of the place from pictures. It is situated in a large down, with not much of anything else visible for miles (except for the other tourists). The entrance and souvenir buildings are nestled subtly on the other side of the road; the site itself is reached by a tunnel under the road. My excitement was dampened by the fact that I couldn't walk among the stones. The main area was roped off, and a line of sight-seers shuffled along the path around the circumference with audio guides glued to their ears like cell phones. I felt no mystical vibrations, no spiritual connection to the ancients. My slight disappointment was, I'm sure, attributable to the fact that I'd come directly from the airport and was fighting a case of jet-lag after my trans-Atlantic flight.

I am still awed by pictures of Stonehenge and intrigued by its mysteries. I would like to go again, preferrably on summer solstice, when I could walk among and touch the stones.

Stonehenge: Days Out & Events
The English Heritage site has general visitor information, photos, and information on how to arrange up-close access to the stones.