Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park lies directly across the Columbia River and covers 6,000 acres. Although petrified wood had been reported there as early as 1898, its presence in quantity in this vicinity was first realized in 1927 during construction of the highway between Ellensburg and Vantage. The park is one of the most unusual petrified wood areas in the world, with an unusually diverse flora rarely preserved in lava flows. Well over 200 varieties of wood have been identified there, including Ginkgo, the “sacred tree of China,” which no longer exists in the wild state. Development began in the 1930’s through a cooperative program involving the State of Washington, the National Park Service, and the Civilian Conservation Corps. Since then, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has developed the modern Interpretive Center with exhibits on the geological story, and the U.S. Department of the Interior has designated the park a Registered Natural Landmark because of its unique character.