Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ginkgo Petrified Forest /Wanapum Recreational Area |
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Petrified logs at the park interpretive center
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 Ginkgo Petrified Forest /
Wanapum Recreational Area Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | Kittitas, Washington, United States |
| Area | 7,124 acres (28.83 km2) |
| Elevation | 791 ft (241 m) |
| Established | 1935 |
| Operator | Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission |
| Website | Ginkgo Petrified Forest / Wanapum Recreational Area |
| Designated: | 1965 |
Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park/Wanapum Recreational Area is a special place in Washington. It's a park that protects a very old forest where trees have turned into stone! This park covers about 7,124-acre (2,883 ha) along the Columbia River.
The park is famous for its petrified wood. This means that over millions of years, the wood of ancient trees slowly changed into rock. Scientists have found more than 50 different kinds of trees that became petrified here. These include trees like ginkgo, sweetgum, redwood, Douglas fir, walnut, and maple.
Contents
How the Petrified Forest Formed
Ancient Trees and Volcanoes
The rocks in this park tell a story from about 15.5 million years ago. Back then, this area was a wet and green forest. Many kinds of plants grew here that are now extinct.
Volcanoes were active in the region. When they erupted, they buried many of these trees in volcanic ash. Over a very long time, minerals in the groundwater soaked into the tree trunks. These minerals slowly replaced the wood, turning it into stone. This process is called petrification.
Ice Age Floods and Discovery
After the trees turned to stone, they were covered and protected by layers of hard rock called basalt. Much later, near the end of the last ice age, huge floods happened. These were called the Missoula Floods, and they took place around 15,000 years ago.
These powerful floods carved away the basalt rock. This exposed some of the amazing petrified wood that we can see today.
Original Inhabitants of the Area
The Wanapum Tribe
Long before the park was created, the Wanapum tribe lived along the Columbia River. They lived by fishing and farming. The Wanapum people were friendly and welcomed the first white explorers, like Lewis and Clark.
They also carved more than 300 pictures, called petroglyphs, into the basalt cliffs. These carvings tell stories and show their way of life. The Wanapum people may have even used the petrified wood they found to make tools like arrowheads.
The Wanapum tribe never fought with settlers and did not sign a treaty. Because of this, they do not have the same official land rights as some other tribes.
Creating the Park and Museum
Discovering the Petrified Wood
Around 1927, people working on a highway noticed the petrified wood. This led a geologist named George F. Beck to start digging and studying the area.
The Civilian Conservation Corps, a group that helped people find work during the Great Depression, finished the digging. They also built a small museum. The park officially opened to the public in 1938.
Frank Walter Bobo's Collection
A man named Frank Walter Bobo was very important to the museum. He was born in California in 1894 and later moved to Washington. He became known for finding and digging up petrified logs from the dry hills.
Frank Bobo was hired to collect, cut, and polish the petrified wood for the museum. He was paid partly by being allowed to keep half of the pieces he prepared. His son later inherited his large collection of petrified wood.
Changes from the Wanapum Dam
In 1963, the Wanapum Dam was finished a few miles downstream. This dam caused the water level of the Columbia River to rise. To protect important artifacts, a new Interpretive Center was built.
About 60 petroglyphs were saved from the rising water. Many of these ancient carvings are now on display at the Interpretive Center for visitors to see.
Park Recognition and Activities
Special Designations
In October 1965, the National Park Service recognized the Ginkgo Petrified Forest as a National Natural Landmark. This means it's a very important natural site in the United States.
Later, in 1975, petrified wood was named the official state gem of Washington by the state legislature.
Things to Do at the Park
The park's museum is a great place to start your visit. It has displays of both petrified wood and the ancient Wanapum petroglyphs.
You can also walk the Trees of Stone Interpretive Trail. This trail is where you can see 22 different kinds of petrified logs still in the ground, just as they were found in the 1930s. There's a 1.5-mile loop and a longer 2.5-mile loop to explore.
The park also offers lots of fun activities along the Columbia River. You can go swimming, boating, or even camping. It's a fantastic place to learn about ancient history and enjoy nature!
See also
In Spanish: Parque estatal del Bosque Ginkgo Petrificado para niños
