Portland Brownstone Quarry Simulator

NGSS HS-ESS3-1: Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.

Located across the Connecticut River from Middletown, CT, the Portland Brownstone Quarries provided building material for iconic structures in New York City, Boston, and beyond. In this simulation, manage extraction rates, workforce, and transportation while navigating the ever-present hazard of river flooding (which famously halted major operations in 1938).

Resource Dashboard

Year
1850
Workforce
50
Stone Extracted
0 tons
Local Wealth
$10,000

Management Actions

Slow / Safe Fast / Risky

Flood Risk Level

Low Risk. Mining deep increases risk of river breach.

Portland Quarry Map

Instructions: Click brownstone blocks to mark them for extraction. The deeper you mine (closer to the river), the higher the risk of a flood event during the year.

> Welcome to Portland, CT (1850).

Historical Impact Analysis

Observe how the local population (workforce) and wealth fluctuate based on the availability of the resource and the impact of natural hazards (flooding).