One Square Inch of Silence, Environmental project in Olympic National Park, US

One Square Inch of Silence is a noise-control project marked by a small red stone placed in the Hoh Rainforest of Olympic National Park in 2005 by sound recording specialist Gordon Hempton. The stone sits on a moss-covered log at a spot Hempton calls the quietest place in the United States, and it serves as a monitoring point for natural sound.

Founded on Earth Day 2005, this project emerged from concerns that growing noise reaches even remote wilderness areas in Olympic National Park. The initiative aimed to protect the natural soundscape of the park's backcountry from encroaching human noise.

The red stone was placed by sound recordist Gordon Hempton, whose work on the project appeared in the 2010 documentary Soundtracker, first shown at the Sedona Film Festival. Commercial pilot Philip Greenspun reported that some airlines rerouted flights voluntarily to spare the spot from jet noise.

The red stone sits in the Hoh Rainforest of Olympic National Park, in Jefferson County, Washington. The forest is wet year-round, so waterproof layers and sturdy footwear help; the walk from the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center takes about two hours. The stone is small and easy to pass, so note its position before setting out.

The red stone was placed by sound recordist Gordon Hempton, who formed a foundation to keep jet noise out of Olympic National Park. Commercial pilot Philip Greenspun notes that some airlines have voluntarily rerouted flights to avoid noise over the spot. Hempton's work, including this project, appears in the 2010 documentary Soundtracker, first shown at the Sedona Film Festival.