Backbone State Park

Backbone State Park
Richmond Springs
Coordinates	42°37′59″N 91°33′42″W / 42.63306°N 91.56167°W / 42.63306; -91.56167
Area	2,001 acres (8.10 km2)
Established	1919
Governing body	Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Website	Backbone State Park
Backbone State Park Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Area	1,415 acres (573 ha)
Built	1933-1942
Architect	John R. Fitzsimmons
Architectural style	Rustic
MPS	CCC Properties in Iowa State Parks MPS
NRHP reference No.	91001842[1]
Added to NRHP	December 23, 1991

Backbone State Park is Iowa's oldest state park, dedicated in 1919. Located in the valley of the Maquoketa River, it is approximately three miles (5 km) south of Strawberry Point in Delaware County. It is named for a narrow and steep ridge of bedrock carved by a loop of the Maquoketa River originally known as the Devil's Backbone. The initial 1,200 acres (490 ha) were donated by E.M. Carr of Lamont, Iowa. Backbone Lake Dam, a relatively low dam built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s, created Backbone Lake. The CCC constructed a majority of trails and buildings which make up the park.