Petersen Rock Gardens were started in 1935 by Rasmus Petersen. Petersen was born in Denmark on July 21, 1883, and came to Central Oregon in 1906. He built a home, began farming, and gradually purchased land until he was cultivating nearly 300 acres. By 1935, he finally time to devote to his yard where he started with a small rock feature near his house. He eventually covered four acres with ponds,
bridges, and castles built of rocks he acquired within an 85 mile radius of his home. The rocks include agate, jasper, thundereggs, petrified wood, lava, and obsidian. Petersen died in 1952, but the Gardens are still owned and operated by family members. In addition to the gardens there is a museum and gift shop. Petersen Rock Gardens is on the Historic Preservation League of Oregon's 2011 Most Endangered Places list because of vandalism and deterioration due to climate and deferred maintenance. It is currently being nominated to the National Register of Historic Places. Friends of Petersen Rock Gardens along with local Historical Organizations are coordinating to help restore and preserve this treasure of Americana. Contact Allen Roy.
