The trees, the trees, where are the trees!
The Petrified Forest National Park.
The Petrified Forest is distinct from the Painted Desert; although they both share the same features - sand, rocks, colorful hills - The Petrified Forest is accessible by car . . . the Painted Desert is a fall of 100 feet.
The Petrified Forest National Park is located In central east Arizona along I-40. It is south of/and borders the Painted Desert.
I began my trip at the southern edge of the park near the town of St. Johns pop. 3263 (2000 census) "A town of friendly neighbors."
The most notable story I got from a resident of St. Johns (and a little research for specifics) is, on June 24, 1882, Mormon leader Nathan Tenny, (1817 - June 24, 1882) - that's called foreshadowing.
Was shot by his neighbors walking down the middle of the street, bible in hand, while trying to end a gunfight among the locals . . . and died.
I got this little piece of irony while sitting in a bar that still has bullet holes in the wall.
After escaping "A town of friendly neighbors", head north.
This is your last chance to get Free Petrified Wood. Taking petrified wood from inside the park is illegal. Little Lithodendron wash, west of the park, was once full of glassy petrified wood pebbles - "litho derms". It must have been a beautiful sight. Now it's all gone. Only sand and burrowing frogs remain.
This is a good place to acknowledge the work that National Parks do in the preservation of our National Heritage.
"Thank you National Parks!"
| Into the Park |
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Unless you have a yearly parks pass (recommended) a seven-day pass will cost $20.00
Overnight hiking/camping in the wilderness requires a free permit. Take plenty of water, sunscreen, and rattlesnake spray.
Stop at the park's information center and take a trip over the Rainbow Park trail.
Cool stuff inside as well.
This area was once a Triassic Period forest, 225 million years ago, now containing the fossil remains of wood, plants, and animals. It's hard to believe that Arizona was the site of a tropical landscape. This Period was known as the Dawn of the Dinosaurs . . . when small dinosaurs struggled to survive the attention of crocodile-like reptiles. (information gathered from the park's brochure)
And then suddenly the swamp was drained and it was gone.
Then came the early nomadic people: Across the Siberian land bridge. (Encyclopedia Britannica) . . . . From the 4th world, called "Glittering World" by the Dine'. (Navajo creation story.)
Wherever they came from and whoever they were, they left us stories about their world.
| Newspaper Rock |
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| Ancient Homeland |
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Around 1380 the people who built the pueblos and kivas started moving away. Drought may have forced them to move. Arizona being Arizona.
The last 200 years
1857: "The United States government hired E. F. Beale to build a wagon road from Fort Defiance, New Mexico, to the Colorado river." (Petrified Forest National Park brochure.)
1876: "Ammon Tenney (1844-1925) arrives to locate sites for Mormon immigrants from Utah." (Robert Lucas, "Arizona 1912-2012.)"
1878: Ammon Tenney's father takes a bible to a gun fight. (Bartender, Witch Wells Tavern.)
1880's: Little Lithodendron Wash gets a makeover. (Pete, explaining a dusty dry wash.)
1906: President Theodore Roosevelt signs legislation creating Petrified Forest National Monument. (Brochure again.)
1920: The Painted Desert Inn (Still there today.)
1926: Route 66 established. (Wikipedia.)
1946: "Get your kicks on Route 66." (Blue pen in my pocket.) Song composed by Bobby Troup. Made popular by the Nat King Cole trio.
| The Painted Desert Inn |
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The original building from the early 1920s was made of petrified wood. (Face palm)
The amazing history of the Painted Desert Inn can be read from the displays and pamphlets at the hotel. The interior is much as it was when it was operated by the Fred Harvey Company as a Harvey house and staffed by the famous "Harvey girls" until, 1963.
Set to be destroyed in the early 1970's, is was saved by public protest; the house was reopened for limited use.
It was declared a National Historic landmark in 1987.
Above the Navajo blanket is a pictograph of a mountain lion. The information about the lion's claw comes through loud and clear.
Note: I have seen a pictograph used as a doorstop. Please do not take historic items from the land. Leave them alone. It is illegal and, as the legend of "The People" goes, the spirits will follow the items.
This ends our journey through the Petrified Forest National Park, now overlooking the Painted Desert.
I'm reminded of the immortal quote of Beavis and Butt-Head when they were at the Visitors Center in the movie Beavis and Butt-Head do America:
"Hehehe . . . wood."
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This has been Henry Gant, Man About Town.
All images by the author.
Epilogue:
Park pass - $20.00
Gas and food for trip - $35.00
Watching "Bevis and Butthead do America" - Priceless.