Arizona offers an abundance of historic places that will open your eyes to its rich past, from cliff dwellings and old mining towns to meteor craters – these landmarks will help shed light on America’s West history.
Taliesin West by Frank Lloyd Wright stands as one of the most stunning historical landmarks in Arizona.
Scorpion Gulch
Arizona offers plenty of history for visitors of any interest to discover, whether its mystical Vortexes in Sedona with their special energy said to aid healing and spirituality, or Petrified Forest National Park with its ancient crystallized wood and village that was occupied for one thousand years – you are sure to find plenty to satisfy both interests!
Taliesin West, the iconic home of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright located in Scottsdale and just a short drive from Phoenix is another must-visit landmark. You can tour his house featuring both Sonoran Desert architecture and western traditional design features.
Fort Bowie, located in southeastern Arizona and preserved as an historic site by the US Army outpost in southeastern Arizona is an integral part of Arizona history. This historic site preserves its ruins that played an integral role in the conflict between Union Army troops and Chiricahua Apache tribesmen.
Governor Hunt’s Tomb
Governor Hunt’s Tomb is an unforgettable tribute to an Arizona pioneer who contributed significantly to state life. A key writer of Arizona’s constitution, Governor Hunt helped build roads, education institutions and prisons while also helping secure water rights from Colorado River.
His pyramid-shaped tomb can easily be found atop a hill in Papago Park. Built in 1932 and made out of white stone, its 20-foot height commemorates first Arizona State Governor George W.P. Hunt (buried alongside Helen Duett Ellison Hunt and five family members in 1934).
Park Ranger Cody Huggins notes Hunt was a progressive leader, which may explain his unconventional tomb. Huggins believes it reflects Egypt’s increasing fascination at that time (particularly following Tutankhamen’s tomb discovery in 1922). Hunt was also an active Freemason and his design is reflective of this; furthermore, this site includes two benches so visitors may pay their respects at his tomb site.
Agua Fria National Monument
Agua Fria National Monument lies approximately 40 miles north of Phoenix along Interstate 17, boasting prehistoric ruins, petroglyphs and other cultural sites from ancient civilizations as well as an abundance of prehistoric fossils and rare plants and animals that provide outstanding biological resources.
This 71,100-acre park features the Agua Fria River Canyon as well as grassy mesas separated by valleys with valuable riparian forests, where visitors can camp, hike and explore hundreds of ancient archaeological sites ranging from ruins, pictographs and petroglyphs.
Agua Fria National Monument’s landscape straddles the line between desert cacti lands and grass-chaparral belt, providing shelter to an abundance of wildlife. Coyotes, bobcats and antelope can often be seen roaming freely here alongside white-tail and mule deer; white-tailed javelina and the occasional mountain lion and black bear may also make appearances here as well as reptiles such as diamondback rattlers, leopard frogs or fence lizards while its rivers provide freshwater sources that support native birds as well.
Coronado National Memorial
At the dawn of the 16th century, Spain was an established colonial power. Wealth poured into their coffers, new lands opened for exploration and tales about Seven Cities of Cibola captured many imaginations – among them Francisco Vasquez de Coronado’s own.
This park honors Coronado’s 1540-42 expedition and its impact on cultural interactions between Native Americans and Spanish settlers in the Southwest. It provides breathtaking views along Mexico’s border, hiking trails, and features an underground cave system.
Visitor center offers in-depth exhibits and hands-on displays of 16th century clothing and armor, while there’s also desert wildlife to explore and a moderate trail up a scenic mountain slope for hiking. Plus, because this park lies at a biological crossroads where four major biogeographic provinces meet, the area boasts an incredible diversity of flora and fauna!
