March Special Event: Arizona Archeology and Heritage Awareness Month

9 am to 12 pm every Saturday, join park archeologist Jay Theuer for Flint Knapping/ Stone Tool Manufacturing at the Painted Desert Visitor Center.

10 am to 4 pm every Saturday, Cultural Demonstrators will be showing their skills and wares at the Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark.

1:30 pm every Saturday: Petroglyph walks with park archeologist Jay Theuers. Locations will vary depending on weather and size of group and will be announced at 12:45 pm on the day of the program at the Painted Desert Visitor Center, Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark, and Rainbow Forest Museum. Reservations will be accepted.

10:00 am to 4:00 pm Saturday, March 21
Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark
Navajo Silversmith Demonstration
Teddy Goodluck, Sr. and Rebekah Goodluck will be demonstrating their traditional Navajo silver-smithing techniques.

Try the interactive quiz at the Painted Desert Visitor Center, the Archeology Mysteries and exhibit at the Painted Desert Inn, and check for other special programs at any of the information desks.

Spring 2009

With full staff, the programs include:

10 am, 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm Triassic Park Walk or Talk
How did these living trees turn to stone? Meet in the Rainbow Forest Museum sunroom. Find out on this easy Ranger talk or guided walk (weather depending) along the Giant Logs Trail. Some stairs along the trail.

1:00 pm Painted Desert Inn Tour
This National Historic Landmark has a fascinating history. From the early 1920s through today, its story includes early pioneers, the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Fred Harvey Company, and the National Park Service. Meet at Painted Desert Inn for an easy Ranger-guided walk through the building. Some stairs may be included on the tour.

1:30 pm Crystal Forest Walk
Discover the wonders of crystals hidden within petrified logs and the issues faced by these secret treasures. Meet at the Crystal Forest sunshelter for an easy to moderate walk with a Ranger along Crystal Forest Trail.

2:30 pm  Painted Desert Plaza Talks
What’s that red flower? Why is that lizard green? What’s a petroglyph? Who were the CCC? Join a ranger at the Painted Desert Visitor Center for a short talk about one of many stories of this dramatic land and its history.

At the very least, based on staffing, programs will include:

10:00 Triassic Park Program
1:00 Triassic Park Program
2:30 Plaza talk

Please note that ranger programs are subject to cancellation due to weather conditions or staffing issues.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS:

Petrified Forest National Park offers special events throughout the year. Revisit the special events page to check for updates.

Science and Education Center Lecture Series
The Petrified Forest National Park Science and Education Center was established to bring park visitors and researchers together to foster understanding and appreciation of the natural and cultural resources of the park and the Colorado Plateau. Lectures are held the first Wednesday of each month on a variety of topics including geology, paleontology, archaeology, and biology.

Artist in Residence Program
Professional visual, performing, and literary artists pursue their artistic discipline while surrounded by the inspiring landscape of Petrified Forest National Park.