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Timeline

1857

William Travers discovers Petrified Forest.

1870

Charles E. Denison has article describing Forest published in San Francisco Bulletin newspaper

Professor O.C. Marsh of Yale University visits Forest; his article, "A Fossil Forest in the Tertiary of California," published in The American Journal of Science and Arts

1871

Charles Petersen Evans claims the Forest property under the Timber & Stone Act; excavates various petrified logs, including the Queen Tree; and, builds the Wasps' Nest cottage. His sister, Christina Ryden, and niece, Elizabeth, join him.

1879

Poet Benjamin F. Taylor visits the Forest.

1880

Famous writer Robert Louis Stevenson visits Charles Evans and his Petrified Forest. Stevenson recounts his visit in his booklet, The Silverado Squatters (Chapter 2).

Charles Evans, nicknamed "Petrified Charlie" after Stevenson's visit, dies from a fall down stairs in a San Francisco hotel.

1888

Evans' sister Christina Ryden is forced to sell the Forest due to her poor health and financial woes.

Late 1880s

A preacher and a lawyer buy the Forest. Besides a very modest income from tourism, the couple cultivates wine grapes. The fruit of the vine, however, causes the teetoaling preacher to dissolve the venture.

Early 1900s

Local entrepreneur M.C. "Boss" Meeker acquires Forest from a foreclosure sale.

1910-1914

Ollie Orre Bockée, along with her husband, David, purchase the Forest for $16,000.00, with $4,000 down. The Wasp Nest is demolished.

1915-17

Ollie's son, Harold Young, builds the Main House. The five-bedroom house built of redwood is modeled after a Swiss chalet.

1917

Luther Burbank, the so-called "plant wizard," and his wife visit the Forest.

1920-22

Ollie divorces David. He, upon his return from fighting in France during World War I, made a gift to Ollie of the Forest for love and affection.

1910-1920

Most of the trees are excavated.

1950's

The Petrified Forest is expanded.

1978

The Petrified Forest is designated a state historical landmark, #915.

1988

The first tree is powerwashed.

1989

The Meadow Walk is cut.

The Main Trail is upgraded. The Petrifed Forest is profiled in Sunset Magazine. The Petrified Forest is profiled in Bay Area BackRoads.

1990

The Petrified Forest is featured in California Geology. The Petrified Forest is profiled in Bay Area BackRoads again. The Gift Shop is renovated.

1991

The New Excavation begins.

1992

The Museum is expanded.

1999

A donated Petrified Log went on display in the "Hall of Planet Earth" at New York's American Museum of Natural History.

2007

Changed name of the New Excavation to the Ollie Bockée Tree . Uncovered the root ball ball in September 2006.

Powerwash
High pressure water spray that removes the moss and embedded lichens thus exposing the tree's bark, knots, wood grain and druzzy quartz.