Rincon Valley Education Foundation – Madrone A Walk in Paradise Auction 2019
Auction Ends: Sep 19, 2019 09:00 PM PDT

Family Fun

Petrified Forest Family 4 Pass

Item Number
38
Estimated Value
36 USD
Sold
30 USD to hg2445c9c
Number of Bids
5  -  Bid History

Item Description

One Family Pass for 4, expires December 2019

The Petrified Forest is a California Registered Historical Landmark. Step back in time over 3 million years and follow a trail of majestic, giant redwoods that have turned to stone!

HISTORY OF THE PETRIFIED FOREST
The Petrified Forest, in Calistoga, California holds one of the finest examples in the world of a preserved ancient forest. This unique site at the gateway to the Napa Valley was created following a violent volcanic explosion 3.4 million years ago. Seven miles northeast of the property lies the remains of an extinct volcano that today we call Mt. St. Helena. The incredibly powerful blast knocked down the forest of prehistoric Redwood trees (Sequoia langsdorfii) in a SW-NE orientation. Thick layers of volcanic ash billowing from the volcano rapidly buried the trees, creating an anaerobic (oxygen deprived) environment which discouraged the presence of the bacteria that decompose organic material. For thousands of years the formation of mineral-rich water percolated through the ashy deposits, saturating the pores of the organic tissues of the Redwoods with silica, filling the cellular spaces. During this process the saturated water evaporated, and the excess minerals were deposited in the cells and tissues, creating a three-dimensional fossil through the process of permineralization, and perfectly preserving even the most minute detail of the wood.

The petrified trees at this site remained buried for 3.4 million years until, in 1870, an intrepid Swedish homesteader by the name of Charles Evans ("Petrified Charley"), while raking his pasture, discovered the top of an old hollow log that was as hard as stone. His initial curiosity led a number of scientists to visit the property in order to learn more about these natural wonders in California. One such visitor was the famed American paleontologist O.C. Marsh. Through his observations of the site, and the analysis of the petrified wood back at Yale University, he wrote "A Fossil Forest in the Tertiary of California," published in The American Journal of Science and Arts in 1871. These initial studies of the petrified forest were continued in the late 1920s by world renowned paleobotanist Ralph W. Chaney from U.C. Berkeley, who wrote "Redwoods of the Past", which started a career long study of Redwoods in the fossil record. This collaboration with U.C. Berkeley continues today, allowing us to further develop our understanding of this petrified forest as it is today, as well as teaching us about the environments of the past. In later years, petrified Pine and Oak trees were discovered on the outer edges of the ancient Redwood forest. Associated with the petrified trees are fossil leaf impressions of numerous other conifers and hardwoods. This includes needles of Spruce, Douglas Fir, and Hemlock and broadleaves of Alder, Myrtle, Tan Oak, California Laurel, Rhododendron, and Huckleberry, as well as a new species of Oak (Quercus bockeei) named after the owner Ms. Ollie Bockee. who discovered it during excavation of the Tunnel Tree and which was later identified in 1930 by Erling Dorf, a noted geologist and Professor at Princeton University. Through the years, the Petrified Forest has also been a sanctuary and place of interest for many other notable individuals. In 1880, Robert Louis Stevenson recorded his visit to the Petrified Forest in his book "The Silverado Squatters," while exploring the local environments with his new wife, Fanny Stevenson. Luther Burbank, one of the most important horticulturalists the world has ever known, also took time out of his busy schedule to contribute to our understanding of the Petrified Forest. During his visits he assisted in the study of a number of our native plants and trees on the property, and helped dedicate a large piece of petrified wood to Central Park in New York. Since the time of Charles Evans, this incomparable property has passed through several different owners, but it was not until Ollie Bockee purchased the land in 1914 that the park really started to take shape as we see it today. Ollie came in with the vision of creating a site with the goals of scientific discovery, preservation, and education moving into the future. Her family has now owned, managed, and expanded this property for over one hundred years, passing on their knowledge and passion for the land, and a preservation ethic and educational philosophy that still stands strong today. In celebration of their hard work and dedication, the family held a one hundredth anniversary celebration in 2014. The family looks forward to the continued sharing and celebration of the Petrified Forest as we begin the next one hundred years. We look forward to you joining us for the adventures to come.

Item Special Note

PICK UP: Winning bidders will be able to pick up items at Madrone Elementary School during the Walk-a-Thon on Friday September 20, 2019 from 2:45 till 5:30 pm at the Auction Pick-up Booth.  

ADDITIONAL PICK UP TIMES:

Monday September 23:

Before School 8:00am-8:30am

After School 1:25pm-1:55pm

Wednesday September 25 Before School 8:00am-8:30am

After School 1:25pm-1:55pm

***If you are unable to pick up your item during these times, please contact the auction administrator at meganfonseca@hotmail.com by Wednesday, September 25th, 2019. Items not picked up, or had alternate pick up arrangements made, will be donated back to the Madrone PTA. Parents or an adult must be present to pick up auction items. Items will not be released to children.

SHIPPING: GIFT CERTIFICATES are available for shipping! We do not ship anything that cannot be mailed in an envelope!

LEGAL AGE REQUIREMENTS: MUST BE 21 YEARS OF AGE to bid on ANY Auction Lots containing WINE, WINERY EXPERIENCES, BEER, TASTINGS, AND/OR OTHER ALCOHOL OR ALCOHOL RELATED ITEMS!!!

BILLING: Credit cards will automatically be billed at the close of the auction on Thursday, September 19, 2019. Please update your card info on Bidding for Good!