Arizona is known as the Grand Canyon state. It is bordered by California on the west, New Mexico on the east, Nevada & Utah on the north, with Mexico on the southern border. In our Northeastern corner of the state ( 4 corners) we have the only place in the USA where 4 states meet Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. Arizona also has the Petrified Forest 200 million years ago, much of northeastern Arizona was blanketed by dense forests of mosses, ferns and tall Conifers in what was then a low-lying swamp basin. Fallen logs slowly became petrified as water-borne sediment seeped through the wood tissue, crystallizing it into quartz. Today, the Petrified Forest is a unique land of scenic wonders located in what is now high-plateau country, about 2 hours east of Flagstaff. Covering some 93,533 acres, it features one of the world's largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood. The park also encompasses the multi-hued badlands of the Painted Desert, archaeological sites and displays of 225 million year old fossils. Remember: The removal of petrified wood is strictly prohibited by law. Gift shops sell petrified wood that comes from private land, outside the park. Arizona has many Native Americans (14 tribes) . The largest group are the Navajo or dine' as they call themselves. The navajo had some very important men in the second world war called the code talkers who are just now getting recognition. The dine' make turquoise jewerly which is very popular. The Hopi and Zuni who live in the Northern area near Colorado and close to the Navajo nation. The Apache's have a few reservations in Arizona. The San Carlos and the White Mountain, and just north of Phoenix you have the McDowell which is the Mohave-Apache nation and some are Yavapai-Apache , In the south we have the Tohono O'odham who live near the San Xavier Mission that was founded by the missionary Jesuit's and founded in 1700 by Father Eusebio Francisco Kino . The ancient Hokokam's used to live in what is now Tucson. The Pascua Yaqui. Not recognized as an historic tribe until 1994, the Yaqui Indians have faced a long battle for recognition. The tribe is descended from ancient Uto-Azteca people. In the High County in the Kaibab reservation live the Paiute people . And South of Phoenix on the Gila river is the Gila river indian nations, wher the Papago, Apache, Pima, and Maricopa tribes live together. And the Havasupai Indians who live in the Grand Canyon and surrounding area, All the residents of the reservation live in Supai Village, in 3000 foot deep Havasu Canyon - all supplies, including mail, are packed in by horse and mule train. A perennial creek flows over three breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls and several smaller waterfalls. Havasupai means "people of the blue green water." State Bird Cactus Wren Some more places to visit if you come to Arizona are Tombstone with the OK coral . Then the movie studio's at Old Tucson, where many old westerns have been made there. There is also, old western towns, Route 66 towns, indian villages, and old U.S.Cavalry forts and Buffalo Soldiers quarters. Museums of all kinds for the old west like the Rex Allen and the Cowboy Museums. And the old US Territory Prison in Yuma. Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park Yuma Territorial Prison is living proof that there really was a wild West. More than 3,000 culprits, convicted of crimes ranging from polygamy to murder, lived in rock and adobe cells during the prison's 33 year life. Still standing are the cells, main gate, and guard tower that give visitors a glimse of convict life a century ago. Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park Built in 1882, the Tombstone Courthouse was the first Cochise County Courthouse. The building served as the County courthouse until 1929 when the county seat was moved to Bisbee where it remains today. Some of the most notorious criminal cases were tried in the courthouse during Arizona's territorial period. The professional staff at the park provides visitors with fact-based interpretations of the history of the area. The park is the only publicly-owned museum in the town of Tombstone, located off U.S. Route 80. Tubac Presidio State Historic Park Spanish soldiers established the fort in 1752 to control the local Pima and Apache Indians and serve as a base for further exploration of the Southwest. An underground display features portions of the original foundation, walls, and plaza floor of the Presidio (fort) de San Ignacio de Tubac. The park is located 45 miles south of Tucson off Interstate 19 near the community of Tubac. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Covering some 330,688 arces, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument celebrates the life and landscape of the Sonoran Desert. Here, in this desert wilderness of plants and animals and dramatic mountains and plains scenery, you can drive a lonely road, hike a backcountry trail, camp beneath a clear desert sky, or just soak in the warmth and beauty of the Southwest. The Monument exhibits an extraordinary collection of plants of the Sonoran Desert, including the organ pipe cactus, a large cactus rarely found in the United States. There are also many creatures that have been able to adapt themselves to extreme temperatures, intense sunlight and little rainfall. *   Main Page   *   Arizona   *   Ghost Towns   * *nbsp;  Mogollon Rim   *   Western writers   *   Western Poets   *