Mississippi Petrified Forest

The Mississippi Petrified Forest is one of only two petrified forests in the eastern United States. Fossilized tree specimens located there are believed to have been formed 36 million years ago when fir and maple logs washed down an ancient river channel to the current site where they later became petrified. A museum at the site displays samples of petrified plant matter, including leaves, fruits, cones, bark, from every American state and additional countries outside the U.S. Other fossils and fossil casts are on display, including dinosaur footprints, whale bones and turtle shells. The petrified forest was declared a National Natural Landmark in October 1965.