San Bernardino County Museum unveils new petrified wood outdoor exhibit

A detailed exhibit sign from the San Bernardino County Museum titled 'Wood to Stone,' explaining how wood becomes petrified. The sign features four colorful diagrams showing each step of the process and text in both English and Spanish. The exhibit’s outdoor area with gravel and petrified wood is partially visible behind the sign.

A glimpse of San Bernardino County Museum’s newest outdoor petrified garden exhibit.

The San Bernardino County Museum is excited to announce the opening of its new outdoor Petrified Garden exhibit. This stunning new addition to the museum’s grounds invites visitors to explore the fascinating world of petrified wood — ancient trees turned to stone over millions of years — offering a rare opportunity to connect with Earth’s geological history in an immersive, outdoor setting.

The new outdoor exhibit features a curated collection of exceptional petrified wood specimens, several sourced from fossil sites throughout San Bernardino County. Visitors can view these ancient trees up close, with informative displays that explore the science behind the petrification process, the history of the trees, and the ecosystems that existed when they were alive.

“We are thrilled to bring this unique and educational outdoor experience to our community,” said the museum’s Curator of Earth Sciences Scott Kottkamp. “Petrified wood is a beautiful window into ancient ecosystems. The trees on display in the garden record the transformation of San Bernardino County from rainforest, to savanna, and finally to desert over 60 million years. Our new outdoor exhibit will provide visitors a chance to step back in time and discover the incredible story of how these trees became preserved in stone.”

This new exhibit provides a remarkable opportunity to deepen our understanding of Earth’s ancient past, where towering forests once stood and where trees that lived millions of years ago continue to tell their stories through the petrified remains they left behind.

The San Bernardino County Museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane, at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (child ages 6 to 12). Children five and under and members are admitted free. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. For more information, visit museum.sbcounty.gov or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

The San Bernardino County Museum’s exhibits of regional, cultural and natural history and the Museum’s other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.

Additional County Update News – Feb. 6, 2025