Flora, MS, May 31, 2004 – Some things only get better with age, and that goes for the giant rocklike trees at the Mississippi Petrified Forest, also known as the "Grand Canyon of Mississippi.” Erosion uncovered the large trees, once part of a mighty forest washed downstream by a great flood-swollen river 36 million years ago. To help others learn more about the Forest and to provide information to tourists, schools, and tour groups, the owners have launched a newly redesigned website, www.mspetrifiedforest.com.
Candace McNamara, President of Mississippi Petrified Forest, Inc., said helping people learn about the Forest is the website’s primary goal. "Our research shows that the Internet is one of the key places people go to plan their travel,” said McNamara, “and it’s crucial that they find information about us quickly. Our website must be friendly to visitors of all ages, plus we want it to be educational and entertaining in its own right."
The website was created by U.S. NetworX. “We focused on making the site attractive as well as easy to navigate,” said Kristen Fowler, Director of Operations for U.S. NetworX. “The site’s features include a brief history of the Forest, a sampling of their attractions, photographs, visitor information, plus an easy to use contact form.”
The Mississippi Petrified Forest is a Registered National Landmark. Logs from the Forest have been featured in the Smithsonian Institute and even displayed by the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia in 1976. National Geographic wrote an article about the Forest in their September 1937 issue, and it has been featured in numerous publications since.
U.S. NetworX is a provider of e-business services such as website design, maintenance, and hosting, databases, intranets, website marketing, and dedicated servers, as well as nationwide Internet access. Their website is located at www.usnx.com, and they presently have clients in 37 states and several foreign countries.
