Tag Archives: Arizona

Fossilized Logs, Petrified Forest, Arizona

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This image shows the typical terrain and depositions of logs that make up the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona.

Reproduction from a Mike Roberts Kodachrome by Intermountain Tourist Supply, Phoenix, Ariz.


The description states:
C649–PETRIFIED FOREST, ARIZONA
Logs of rock are a never-ending source of interest to visitors in the Petrified Forest National Monument, located near U.S. Highway 66 in eastern Arizona.
–For a long period of time travelers would stop along their way and collect samples large and small of the fossilized wood. Once the area was protected as a national monument (and later park) such collecting was prohibited, and samples are gathered from nearby areas instead.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.

Old Faithful Log, Petrified Forest, Arizona

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This image shows a fallen tree, the base closest to the camera, which has been entirely fossilized over millions of years, until it is now completely composed of stone.

From Kodachrome Original by McLaughlin & Company


The description states:
FAMOUS OLD FAITHFUL LOG
Petrified Forest, near Holbrook Arizona.
–The Petrified Forest is a large area of exposed, fossilized trees in northeast Arizona. These trees were originally buried, allowing them to fossilize, and were exposed by erosion of the surrounding material over millions of years. The national park contains a total area of 170 square miles.
This postcard was used and is dated 13 July 1953.

Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona, Arizona

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This image shows the cliff-side face and elevation of the Chapel of the Holy Cross, built into the buttes near Sedona, Arizona.

Dist. by Roben Co., Box 829, Sedona, Arizona


The description states simply:
CHAPEL OF THE HOLY CROSS
SEDONA, ARIZONA
–The building was erected in 1956. This image likely dates from shortly after completion.

San Francisco Peaks, Arizona

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This image shows the snow-covered peaks of the San Francisco Peaks mountain range of Arizona. They are part of the San Francisco National Forest, which has no relation to the city in California.

Kodachrome by Barry Goldwater


The description states:
SNOW-COVERED SAN FRANCISCO PEAKS
mythical home of the Kachina Gods, on Route 66 near Flagstaff, Arizona.
–This card was used and is dated 12 June 1955.

View of Bottom, Meteor Crater, Arizona

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This image shows the Meteor Crater in Arizona, featuring the main impact zone at the center of the bottom.

Natural Color Card from Kodachrome, Lollesgard Specialty Co., Tuscon & Phoenix, Ariz.


The description states:
L486
THE GREAT METEOR CRATER OF ARIZONA;
diameter 4150 ft., depth 570 ft. Showing the floor of the Crater with desert vegetation and remnants of the first explorative works started in 1903.
–The crater was once believed to have enormous profitable iron deposits but the exploratory works, visible here, did not reveal any concentration of deposits that could be economically extracted.
This card likely from the 1950s.

Great Meteor Crater Rim, Arizona

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This image shows the near and far rim of the crater formed by a meteor impact, known as Meteor Crater now.

Color Photography by Stan Davis


The description is fragmentary, but the best interpretation states:
THE GREAT METEORITE CRATER
In Norther Arizona, North of Route 66. Many centuries ago, millions of tons of metal struck from the sky at a speed between 8 and 48 miles per second to plow through fifteen hundred feet of solid rock and form an enormous crater which after centuries of erosion is still 570 feet deep and over 4000 feet across.
–Also visible in the foreground of the picture is a visitors center which provides views of the crater, an interpretive center and access to the bottom..
This card likely dates from the 1950s.

Superstition Mountains with Mesquite and Saguaro Cacti, Arizona

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This image is a closer view of the Superstition Mountains framed at top by mesquite and elsewhere by ancient saguaro cacti. These cacti grow slowly, and their ‘arms’ develop individually, typically the first after as much as 75 years.

A Mike Roberts Color Production, Berkeley 2, Calif.


The description states:
SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN
A lacy mesquite branch add to the farm formed by Saguaros with the rugged from of desert mountains on the horizon.Treasures have been found and lost in these mountains and many are the tales of adventure and sudden death in their stark canyons. Along the Apache Trail, Arizona.
–The description alludes to the legendary Lost Dutchman Mine and other stories of lost gold from the 19th century.
This card was used and is dated 20 December 1955.

Superstition Mountains and Cactus, Arizona

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This image shows several huge saguaro cactus neatly framing the Superstition Mountains, ostensible site of the legendary Lost Dutchman Gold Mine.

Color Photography by Joseph Muensch


The description states:
SAGUARO CACTUS,
SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN
The graceful, sentinel-like saguaro cacti present scenes of sombre beauty. Mysterious Superstition Mountain, on U. S. Highway 60-70, is the subject of many enchanting legends of early-day adventure.
–This picture likely dates from the 1950s.

Santa Fe Super Chief Ascending Raton Pass, Arizona

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This image shows the legendary train operated by the Santa Fe, known as the Super Chief. The train was an all Pullman consist running from Los Angeles to Chicago.
The description states:
Hotels-Shops  Fred Harvey  Restaurants
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
ASCENDING RATON PASS
Raton Pass, the highest point on the Santa Fe Railroad between Chicago and California has an altitude of 7,622 feet.
— When the Santa Fe discontinued passenger service on 1 May 1971, Amtrak took over operation of the Super Chief, but had to change the name over time, and now the train running on this route is known as the Southwest Chief.
This card was used and is dated 8 July 1955

Navaho Sand Painting, New Mexico

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This image shows several Navajo men working on a traditional sand painting. Originally, this painting would have been made by a tribal shaman as a part of a healing ritual, rather than as a collective effort for public display.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


The description states:
6–WHIRLING LOG (GOOD LUCK)
SAND PAINTING OF THE NAVAJO INDIANS
The Navajo Indians have an elaborate nine day ceremony, the Yebashi, in which a sand panting is made daily and according to their religion each one must be destroyed before sunset, otherwise it would be a very bad omen.
These are made by qualified Medicine Men in which many colors of sands are used, ground from colored rock. The”Whirling Log” sand painting is one of the very important of a group and is said to bring good fortune.
–The Yebashi is now more commonly spelled yebache, but there is no immediately available information on line about this lengthy ritual.
This image dates from the 1940s.