 In May 1903, the Indiana state government purchased of forest in the north of Clark County, noted for its knob features (isolated conical hills), for use as Indiana's first state forest, at a cost of US$16,000.Seedlings were planted at Clark State Forest, many of which were to be later moved to other parts of the state.This practice allowed more productive use of the land within the forest, and facilitated the teaching of the art of forestry.