S
SATURDAY, MAY14J949
PAGE SIX
THE BEND BULLETIN," BEND, OREGON
Petersen Rock Gardens Attract 100,000 In One Year
Fairyland Portrayed in Pebbles and Beautiful Stones
ULL.. A DU IV,JJ Museum Constructed in Alcove of Ooorecf now ,
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Lava rocks ol various colors, stones rounded hy stream action and vari-colored obsidian were used
in shaping this fairyland scene. In a setting of trees, where aged junipers intermingle with willows
and cottonwoods, the scene cannot be faithfully reproduced in black and white.
Into Oregon Show Place
Back in the winter of 1935, Rasmus Petersen, Deschutes
county rancher, started a little project to keep himself busy.
The project was the fashioning of a miniature castle out of
rocks he had collected through the years. Out of this winter
project launched 14 years ago grew a tourist attraction out
standing in the Pacific northwest the Petersen rock gar
dens. .
Last year, more than 100,000 persons visited the gardens,
through gates that have no turnstiles or ticket takers. This ,
number about equaled that of the previous year. Since the
rock gardens were started in 1935, probably as many as 500,
000 have visited the grounds. '
Back of the rock garden is a story the story of a man
who saw beauty in juniper groves and white mountains of the
nearby Cascades even before water flowed northward through
canals. Petersen reached the site of his now famous rock gar7
dens on a wintry December day, 1906, member of a party
traveling into the interior country by team and wagon, in
search of land. Petersen liked his camping spot, obtained 236
acres and developed a ranch. He started his rock gardens as
a personal hobby, and expanded the gardens when he dis
covered that the public was interested. Several years ago, he
disposed of his ranch, retaining only the 12 acres where the
ever-expanding rock gardens are located. ,
A number of years ago, Petersen purchased the Guy Comp
ton mineral collection, and around this collection has been
constructed the Petersen museum.
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Few of the thousands of people who visit the Petersen rock gardens each year fail to visit the mu-
seum. pictured here in the background, in an alcove of rocks surmounted by floweis. Moused in
the 'museum is the Compton" collection, largely representing rocks of the Antelope country.
Rules Over Her Rocky Realm
Scene Along Rhine? No, This Is in Deschutes County
Towered Castles Formed From Rocks
The Statue of Liberty, on a pedestal of stones, proudly rules over
her rocky realm at the Petersen gardens. This is one of the newer
creations at, the Deschutes rock gardens, fame of which has
spread over the United States,
This scene might pass for a view along one of Europe's old rivers, witn moated castles and ancient Driago, out it is part ot me
scene in (he Petersen rock gardens. Castle and bridge were shaped from stones of a thousand colors. Enhancing the beauty of the
dreamland setting, the castle is lighted at night. The bridge spans a miniature lake in the expansive gardens. Boatmen can be seen
in the background.
Capping a miniature mountain of colored stones, most of them
gathered from Central Oregon hills, is this imposing castle, walled
with black obsidian. Thousands of rocks were used in creating this
fairy setting in the Petersen gardens.
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Huge Stone Fireplace Central Feature of Museum
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Rock Garden Grounds Are Impressively Landscaped
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-fere is n place where a rock collector might well set and rtrenm-n huge fireplace made of ccodes and gems, obsidians and neatc It
Is the central feature of the Petersen rock-garden muReum, operated by Mis. Charlotte Lamb, who Is pictured here. Her dauchlcrs
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Visitors to the Petersen rock gardpna say this is a picture "out of this world" a picture in which swan boats gracefully glide over a
placid lake that surrounds miniature castles. Even footpaths In the garden arc fringed with Jewelled rocks, colored stones opalescent
wood and multi colored lavas. Trout leap in ponds.