Over 10,000 years of human history and culture can be found at Petrified Forest National Park. From prehistoric peoples to early explorers, from the Civilian Conservation Corps to Historic Route 66, the park has many stories to tell.

Museum Collection
Virtually explore over 200,000 items in the park's museum collection. Petrified Forest National Park has archeological objects from Anasazi, Mogollon, and Sinagua sites; ethnological objects related to Hopi and Navajo cultures; Triassic invertebrate and vertebrate fossils collected from the Chinle Formation; representative geological specimens collected from the Chinle Formation; a photographic archive; and a biological collection.

Short Publications
Archeology - December 2004 (PDF 514kb)
Messages on Stone - December 2004 (PDF 173kb)
Painted Desert Inn - July 2006 (PDF 766kb)
Painted Desert Inn, German Translation - 2007 (PDF 613kb)
Route 66 - America's Mainstreet - January 2006 (PDF 535kb)
History - 2007 (PDF 570kb)
Brief Administrative History

Learning Center Lecture Series
As part of the Petrified Forest National Park Learning Center, a monthly lecture series is held the first Wednesday of each month. Presentations feature paleontology, geology, archeology, and other topics. Lectures are free and open to the public.

Little Colorado River Valley National Heritage Area
Petrified Forest National Park is a proud partner in the development of the Little Colorado River Valley National Heritage Area. Park staff will provide guidance during the designation process and subsequent management. But the park is only one of many local stakeholders who seek to preserve and promote the unique natural and cultural landscapes of this region. A private nonprofit organization, the Center for Desert Archaeology is the lead player in working towards the designation of a Little Colorado River Valley National Heritage Area.

Congress has established National Heritage Areas around the country in which conservation, interpretation and other activities are managed by partnerships among federal, state, and local governments and the private sector. The National Park Service provides technical assistance as well as financial assistance for a limited number of years following designation.

Additional Links
National Park Service Archeology Program: Antiquities Act
Petrified Forest National Park is one of several national park units celebrating their 100th anniversaries in 2006, thanks to the passing of the Antiquities Act in 1906.

National Park Service Archeology Program: Vanishing Treasures
Find out how many national parks are working together to combat deterioration at fragile archeological sites.

National Park Service: Interpretation and Education
If you are a teacher searching for classroom materials, a student doing research, or you just want to learn more about your national parks, then this site is for you! You'll find curriculum, games, the Web Ranger program, and a host of other fun and educational media created by the National Park Service and our partners.