Petersen Rock Garden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Petersen Rock Garden

One of the rock garden's many miniature buildings, 2013
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Established	1935
Location	7930 Southwest 77th Street Deschutes County, Oregon
Type	Rock garden
Owner	Susan Caward

The Petersen Rock Garden is a super cool place in Oregon, USA. It's a special garden and museum built with thousands of rocks! You can find it between the cities of Bend and Redmond.

A Danish immigrant named Rasmus Petersen started building this amazing garden in 1935. He used rocks he found from all around his home. He created tiny castles, churches, and other buildings. He also added bridges and water features. Rasmus worked on the garden until he passed away in 1952. His family has taken care of it ever since.

The garden is known as a fun roadside attraction. It has unique buildings and even peafowl walking around! There's also a museum and a gift shop where you can buy rocks. In 2013, the Petersen Rock Garden was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important historical site!

Exploring Petersen Rock Garden

The Petersen Rock Garden is a unique place to visit. It's considered a "roadside attraction" because it's so different. You'll find it about 3 miles off U.S. Route 97.

What You Can See

The garden covers about 4 acres, which is like four football fields! It's filled with dozens of detailed miniature buildings. These include tiny castles, churches, and cottages. They are all made from different types of rocks. Some of these rocks are agate, jasper, lava, obsidian, and petrified wood. You might even spot some "thundereggs," which are cool rock formations.

As you walk around, you'll see colorful peafowl roaming freely. They add to the garden's charm.

The Museum and Glowing Rocks

There's a small museum at the garden. Inside, you'll find a gift shop that sells many kinds of rocks. You can buy crystals, fossils, and pretty gemstones.

One of the coolest parts of the museum is the special "fluorescent room." In this room, you'll see miniature castles that glow in the dark! These castles are made from rocks like manganese and uranium. It's a really neat sight to see.

The Petersen Rock Garden is open every day. The closing time changes with the seasons. In 2009, it cost $4.50 for adults to get in.

History of Petersen Rock Garden

The story of the Petersen Rock Garden began with Rasmus Petersen. He was a Danish immigrant who came to Central Oregon when he was 17. In 1935, he started building the garden on his family's land.

How Rasmus Built It

Rasmus was a farmer, but he was also very creative. He collected rocks from up to 85 miles away from his home. He wanted his designs to remind him of his home country, Denmark.

But he also made monuments to the United States. He built a concrete American flag. He also created a 7-foot tall replica of the Statue of Liberty.

Rasmus added other cool things to the garden. He built bridges and water features like ponds and streams. He worked on the garden until he died in 1952. A plaque near the Statue of Liberty replica says: "Enjoy yourself: it's later than you think."

Keeping the Garden Alive

After Rasmus passed away, his family continued to care for the garden. It's now managed by his grand-stepdaughter, Susan Caward, and her family. They work hard to keep the lawns and sculptures looking good.

In 2011, the garden was listed as one of Oregon's Most Endangered Places. This program helps bring attention to important historical sites that need care. The garden needed help with maintenance and getting more visitors.

In 2012, a small accident happened when a contractor damaged a stone bridge. This led to a big effort to record the garden using special technology like laser scanning. This way, if anything ever needed to be rebuilt, they would have exact plans.

Restoration and Reopening

The garden was closed for a few months in 2013 for repairs. The family and many volunteers worked hard to restore the grounds. They cleaned up the area and removed old vegetation.

On May 25, 2013, the Petersen Rock Garden had its "grand reopening." Members of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs attended and blessed the garden.

The family has thought about adding a cafe to the garden. They also considered turning the family home into a bed and breakfast. A friend helping with the restoration even imagined adding an amphitheater for concerts.

On October 30, 2013, the Petersen Rock Garden was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This recognizes its importance and unique history.

Images for kids

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  Petersen created monuments to the United States, including a replica of the Statue of Liberty.

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  Interior of the museum