By the late 1800's interest in petrified wood was threatening this landscape. In 1895 the Arizona Territorial legislature petitioned Congress to protect this valuable scientific and cultural treasure. In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt signed legislation creating Petrified Forest National Monument. The Monument became a national park in 1962.
(from park brochure)
An interesting note among many interesting things about this National Park is that it is the only one that preserves a section of Route 66.
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| This is where Historic Route 66 once cut through the park. |
Our first stop once inside the park was The Rainbow Forest Museum, Visitor Center.
Inside the museum
Outside Behind the Museum
A log is petrified when all of its original plant material is infilled, or replaced by minerals. Now this petrified forest is not made of wood, but stone.
Our drive through the park. (I am not sure the pictures are in the order of our drive.)
I read that the landscape of this park is constantly changing as the wind erodes the earth and more of the petrified forest is uncovered.
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| Badlands are not confined to the state of South Dakota's famous national park. |
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| Agate Bridge At one time people were allowed to walk across. Today to help preserve this piece of history we are asked to stay off. |
Painted Desert
"There are other petrified forests, but this is The Petrified Forest of the World."
~John Fletcher Lacey
Note: clicking on pictures will enlarge them
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