Royal City in Grant County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park

Photographed by Don Morfe, September 28, 2006

1. Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Marker

Inscription. Directly across the Columbia River is Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park, covering 6,000 acres. Although the presence of petrified wood had been reported as early as 1898, the first indication of its presence in quantity in this vicinity was realized in 1927 during construction of the highway between Ellensburg and Vantage. This park represents one of the most unusual petrified wood areas in the world. Few localities yield a flora so diverse and only rarely are they preserved in lava flows. Well over 200 varieties of wood have been identified including Ginkgo-the “sacred tree of China”. The Ginkgo no longer exists in the wild state. Development was initiated in the 1930’s through a cooperative program involving the State of Washington, the National Park Service, and the Civilian Conservation Corps. Since that time, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has developed the present modern Interpretive Center with exhibits interpreting the geological story. Because of its unique character, Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park has been designated a Registered Natural Landmark by the U.S. Department

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of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Parks & Recreational Areas.

Location. 46° 57.803′ N, 119° 57.908′ W. Marker is in Royal City, Washington, in Grant County. It is on Interstate 90. The marker is in the White Horse Monument Rest Area at I-90, Exit 139. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Royal City WA 99357, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Columbia Basin. It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Wanapums (here, next to this marker); A Living Landscape (approx. 1.2 miles away); Explore Massive Floodscapes! (approx. 1.2 miles away); Carving Out Basalt Layers (approx. 1.2 miles away); In the Path of Cataclysmic Floods (approx. 1.2 miles away); Here and Gone (approx.

View of the Columbia River from the Rest Stop image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, September 28, 2006

2. View of the Columbia River from the Rest Stop

1.2 miles away); Buried by Enormous Lava Floods (approx. 1.2 miles away); Welcome to Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park (approx. 1.2 miles away).

Photographed by Don Morfe, September 28, 2006

3. View of the Columbia River from the Rest Stop

I-90 bridge to Vantage WA is shown in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 15, 2018. It was originally submitted on February 17, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 658 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 17, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.