Frontierland's Petrified Tree.

   Along the bank of the Rivers of America, there is a special relic from the early days of Disneyland.  A petrified tree stump acquired by Walt in 1956 and was brought to Disneyland and presented by Lillian Disney in 1957.  She clearly wanted nothing to do with the thing.
   Dated between 55 and 70 million years old, this tree clearly doesn't belong in Disneyland.  It's these small random bits of history that make Disneyland so special, as opposed to The Magic Kingdom.  Somehow it just works, and adds another layered element to the story.

The plaque reads:

Petrified Tree

From The

Pike Petrified Forest, Colorado

This section weighs five tons and measures 7 1/2 feet

in diameter.  The original tree, estimated to have been 200 feet tall,

was part of a sub-tropical forest 55 to 70 million years ago in what is 

now Colorado.  Scientists believe it to be of the redwood of sequoia 

species.  During some prehistoric era a cataclysmic upheaval 

caused silica laden water to overspread the living forest.  Wood cells were

changed during the course of time to sandstone.  Opals were formed within the 

tree trunk itself.

Presented to Disneyland

By

Mrs. Walt Disney

September, 1957