In a state like New York, it’s easy to turn any corner and find yourself in front of something beautiful and historic. But oftentimes with a home state as large as ours, we can find ourselves walking by fascinating places without even knowing it. Hiding right in plain sight on the side of the road, history has left a stunning mark on this one piece of the Empire State.

One of the many gorgeous natural wonders that you can find within Saratoga County, New York's forgotten Petrified Sea Garden is more fascinating than you might realize.
Wikimedia Commons
Added to the National Register of Historic Landmarks back in 1999, this area of New York is where the first stromatolites were discovered.
Boston Public Library/Flickr

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The site of the main Petrified Sea Garden remained open on Petrified Sea Gardens Road in Saratoga from the mid-1920s until 2006 when the educational site closed to the public.
James St. John/Flickr
But don't worry. There's still areas of this preserved ancient sea floor that you can visit up close!
James St. John/Flickr
The eye-catching pieces of petrified algae can be viewed right off of the road at Lester Park, a natural history site that's currently run by the New York State Museum.
Google Maps
Head over to Lester Park on Lester Park Road in Saratoga County and you can pull right off of the road to view this ancient sea floor. Walk amongst the 490 million-year-old fossilized sea floor and you'll be able to get a unique look into the past. This area of New York was once covered in algae colonies and a variety of sea life, eventually hardening and becoming the amazing petrified circular formations that we can see today. How cool is that?

Looking for more natural wonders to discover in the Saratoga area? Then read about how Everyone In New York Must Visit This Epic Natural Spring As Soon As Possible!

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