Near Saratoga Springs in Saratoga County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Lester Park

A Natural History Site of the New York State Museum

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, March 29, 2019

1. Lester Park Marker

Inscription. A 490 million year old fossilized sea bottom. Donated in memory of William Lester, Esq. 1914

Erected 1998 by State Education Department.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Paleontology. A significant historical year for this entry is 1914.

Location. 43° 5.531′ N, 73° 50.893′ W. Marker is near Saratoga Springs, New York, in Saratoga County. It is on Petrified Sea Gardens Road, on the right. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saratoga Springs NY 12866, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

in the Capital District,

and in the Albany Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Abandoned Lime Kiln (a few steps from this marker); Rowland's Hollow

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(approx. 1.7 miles away); North Milton (approx. 2.1 miles away); Whitney Field (approx. 2.3 miles away); Dedicated To (approx. 2.4 miles away); Town Hall (approx. 2½ miles away); First Town Meeting (approx. 2.6 miles away); Dublin (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Saratoga Springs.

Also see . . . Geology: Lester Park - The New York State Museum.

"The fossils you'll see at Lester Park are called stromatolites ("layered rocks"). They were constructed by "blue-green algae" on a shallow sea floor that is now exposed. While they were growing, New York and the eastern US lay south of the equator."

(Submitted on September 3, 2026, by Trudi Jacobson of Slingerlands, New York.)

Lester Park Explanation image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, March 29, 2019

2. Lester Park Explanation

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, March 29, 2019

3. Lester Park Marker

Fossilized Sea Bottom image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, March 29, 2019

4. Fossilized Sea Bottom

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, March 29, 2019

5. Timeline

Credits. This page was last revised on September 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 30, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 1,294 times since then and 536 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 30, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.