World's Largest Petrified Wood Park, world record in Lemmon, South Dakota
Lemmon, South Dakota, United States--The Lemmon Petrified Wood Park & Museum, a roadside attraction located off U.S. 12 in Lemmon, South Dakota, created in 1933 by Ole Quammen, a former mayor of Lemmon, features large outdoor sculptures created out of Mesozoic petrified wood; the park now contains 3,200 tons of petrified wood and 100 tons of petrified grass and takes up one 3-acre (1.2 ha) block in the center of downtown Lemmon, South Dakota, and sets the world record for being the World's Largest Petrified Wood Park, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.
"The Lemmon Petrified Wood Park & Museum is a roadside attraction located off U.S. 12 in Lemmon, South Dakota, which features large outdoor sculptures created out of Mesozoic petrified wood. It was created in 1933 by Ole Quammen, a former mayor of Lemmon. Besides the outdoor park, the site has a museum, also built out of petrified wood, which hosts smaller collections of fossils. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 as the Lemmon Petrified Park; when dedicated, it claimed to be the largest petrified wood park in the world. The park and museum, which do not charge admission, are open during the summer months between Memorial Day and Labor Day," Wikipedia says.
"At the time of its NRHP nomination, Lemmon Petrified Wood Park claimed to be the largest petrified wood park in the world. It takes up one 3-acre (1.2 ha) block in the center of downtown Lemmon, South Dakota, and is bounded by Main Avenue (U.S. 12) to the west, 5th Street East to the north, 1st Avenue East to the east, and 6th Avenue East to the south.
"Upon completion, the park featured 4,100 tons of petrified wood and 300 tons of petrified grass, all collected within a 25-mile (40 km) radius of Lemmon in both North and South Dakota. However, as some original material has been stolen or destroyed over the years, the park now only contains 3,200 tons of petrified wood and 100 tons of petrified grass. Many of these samples have been cemented together into abstract forms; other samples have been left intact and are displayed as found. This includes pedestals topped by cannonball concretions, spires, and entire logs. 100 towers made of the stacked cannonball concretions and logs are dotted throughout the park; the smallest of these pyramids is 8 feet (2.4 m) tall, while the largest is 32 feet (9.8 m) tall and is 55 feet (17 m) in circumference. Other cannonballs have been placed atop pillars."
"In private ownership until 1954 when it was donated to the city by Quammen’s heirs.,the park features a wishing well, a waterfall, and a castle. The castle weighs 300 tons and boasts towering spires and turrets. Also in the park are two separate museums, both built entirely of petrified wood," the Atlas Obscura says.
"The larger of the two is circular has a petrified grass floor along with petrified logs. Dinosaur claws, bird tracks and fossilized snakes can be seen in the swirls and patterns. The museum displays antiques and artifacts from the Lemmon area. The formations in the park number over 100 and are up to 20 feet tall.
"The museum and visitor center are only open Memorial Day through Labor Day. You can visit the park all year long, however."
"Built in Lemmon, South Dakota; The Petrified Wood Park is the largest petrified wood park in the world. The park itself is filled with locally gathered petrified wood formations, and other geological specimens of interest," the Lemon, SD says.
"The park also hosts a free museum, itself constructed out of petrified wood that is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day!
"Looking to travel to a place off the beaten path? Well look no further. Lemmon is charming western South Dakota town exploding with arts and culture."
"Occupying nearly a full city block in Lemmon, the Petrified Wood Park & Museum is a curiosity that will pique an interest in both geology and architecture," the Travel South Dakota says.
"With towers up to 20 feet tall, a castle comprised of petrified wood, and petrified dinosaur and mammoth bones, the petrified wood park will be a topic of family discussion for years to come.
"The park also features a gift shop that is open from Memorial Day (late May) until Labor Day (early September)."
"Well, believe it or not the town is named after a guy who's in the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, fella by the name of Ed Lemmon. And yessir, he was a true cowboy, settling up here in this part of the state back in the early 1900's. It was around 1907 or so that a 'tent city' sprung up and developed into what is now Lemmon, South Dakota.
"And don't worry about not being able to find the world's largest Petrified Wood Park, it takes up about an entire block right downtown! It was constructed in the early 1930's and is one of the biggest tourist attractions in this part of the region.
"Read all about Lemmon here and check out pictures of the World's Largest Petrified Wood Park
here. So maybe next summer when you're motoring around the state on vacation, in addition to visiting the World's Only Corn Place and staring in awe at the faces on Mt. Rushmore, mosey on up for an afternoon at the World's Largest Petrified Wood Park!"
"So here in Lemmon, much of the structures look like they are made of wood pieces, but they are all actually more like stone,"
The Offbeat Path says.
This park takes up an entire city block and was constructed in the early 1930s by a crew of men led by Ole S. Quammen. Why, I’m not really sure, but they made a castle, a wishing well, pile sculptures, and more. At one point in the 30s, the main road ran right through the middle of the park.
"The museum/gift shop on site is also built out of petrified wood. It exhibits history on the Quammen family and some locally-significant historical artifacts. Hey, it’s all free, and we know how we feel about free!"
"The Petrified Wood Park and Museum was completed in 1932. It contains a castle, a waterfall, a museum and hundreds of sculptures - all made of petrified wood, rocks and fossils. It's the "World's Largest Petrified Park Of Its Kind." You'll find it at 500 Main Avenue in Lemmon. It's hard to miss - it takes up a whole block!
"The park was the visionary undertaking of Ole S. Quammen, whose passion was geology. In 1930, he started his project, hiring local unemployed men who were suffering during the Great Depression. The City of Lemmon took ownership of the park in 1954, when Quammen's heirs donated it. Now, it draws people from all over the country to this little town," the Only In Your State says.
"The park has around 100 conical-shaped statues. Many are made from pieces of petrified wood - on some, you'll find dinosaur bones and fossils embedded in the rock. Some of the conical statues are made from "cannonballs." These are round rocks that were found in the Cannonball River in North Dakota."
Photos: World's Largest Petrified Wood Park, world record in Lemmon, South Dakota
(2) Lemmon, SD
(3,4) Travel South Dakota
(5) Lemmon, SD
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