Interesting Structures

Interesting Structures. . Castle , This magnificent structure has been constructed out of prehistoric logs, some of which weigh more than 10,000 pounds apiece. The entire castle is composed of more than 300 tons of petrified rock (think 8 full semi-trucks, or 200 cars, or 2500 full-grown men!!) This work of art has many rose quartz pieces that come from the Black Hills of SD, which is the state mineral. , Waterfall , A late addition to the park, the waterfall is one of our most eye-catching petrified wood formations. Built by Olheiser Masonry in 1989 as a tribute, it was dedicated to the original builders of the park, Mr. Rafferty, his sons, and his sons-in-law. Despite popular belief, the waterfall is not a wishing well; please do not throw coins in the waterfall! There is a wishing well in front of the museum that can safeguard any, and all wishes made. , Cannonball Concretions , No hidden dinosaurs here! Commonly mistaken for dinosaur eggs, these concretions are naturally formed through a combination of chemical and mechanical forces. Similar to a jawbreaker, concretions start as a small central core and grow outward. The concretions in this case are referred to as "cannonballs". Cannonballs are unique geologic wonders created from sandstone and mudstone deposits and can be found in exclusive areas of the Upper Missouri River and its tributaries of North and South Dakota. Depending on how they're formed, cannonballs might contain organic material, such as shells or plant fragments. The Cannonball River in Hettinger County (ND) contains an exceptionally thick layer of sandstone that is conducive to creating these structures and is the location where all of the cannonballs in the Petrified Park were gathered. These cannonballs were then cemented together into the structure you see before you during the park's construction.