Arizona – The Grand Canyon State

Grand Canyon, Arizona by Kathy Alexander.

Grand Canyon, Arizona by Kathy Alexander.

From the Grand Canyon to Tucson, Arizona’s storied past reaches back thousands of years, and you will enjoy its tall mountain ranges, swift rivers, grasslands, sand dunes, and cactus forests.

Experience the many tales of Tombstone, buried treasure at Flagstaff, and dozens of ghost towns of this hauntingly beautiful state by taking a virtual tour through Arizona.

One-quarter of the land is occupied by Indian reservations,  where traditional life continues largely unaffected by mainstream US culture. There are also many ruins from the Anasazi period around the 12th  century, preserved as National Monuments. Be sure to visit Montezuma Castle, Walnut Canyon, and Wupatki.

Recreation abounds in Arizona, from its famous golf courses to water sports at Lake Havasu to its beautiful views of the Grand Canyon.

Enjoy your travels in Arizona, and welcome to the Grand Canyon State.

Kathy R. Alexander
Editor/Founder, Legends of America

A cow skull sits in the ghost town of Ruby, Arizona, by Kathy Alexander.

A cow skull sits in the ghost town of Ruby, Arizona, by Kathy Alexander.

The 13 rays of red and gold on the top half of the flag represent both the 13 original colonies of the Union and the rays of the Western setting sun. Red and gold were also the colors carried by Coronado’s Spanish expedition searching for the Seven Cities of Cibola in 1540. The bottom half of the flag has the same Liberty blue as the United States flag. Since Arizona was the largest producer of copper in the nation, a copper star was placed in the flag’s center.

Gunfight recreation in Oatman, Arizona.

Gunfight recreation in Oatman.

Yuma Territorial Prison by Kathy Alexander.

Yuma Territorial Prison by Kathy Alexander.

The Hopi House in Grand Canyon, Arizona by the National Park Service.

The Hopi House in Grand Canyon, Arizona by the National Park Service.

Tombstone, Arizona - Allen Street in the early morning by Kathy Alexander.

Tombstone, Arizona – Allen Street in the early morning by Kathy Alexander.

Categories:

Arizona Photo Galleries

Ghost Towns

Ghosts & Legends

Forts & Presidios

People

Route 66

Treasure Stories of Arizona

Articles:

Across the Painted Desert on Route 66

Arizona Fun Facts and Trivia

Ashfork – Flagstone Capital of the World

Beale’s Wagon Road From New Mexico to California

Bellemont to Deer Park Road on Route 66

Bisbee – Queen of the Copper Camps

Blue Field, Arizona & An Indian Scrimmage

Canyon de Chelly

Chloride – Preserving the Past for the Future

Clifton – Mining Copper Through Thick & Thin

The Cochise Train Robbery

Flagstaff – City of Seven Wonders

The Gadsden Purchase

Golden Shores and Topock- End of the Line

Grand Canyon – One of Seven Wonders

Grand Canyon Caverns – Stumbling Into Opportunity

Historic Sites

Holbrook – Too Tough For Women or Churches

J.L. Hubbell & the Hubbell Trading Post

Jerome – Copper Queen on the Hill

Johnson Canyon Tunnel – Frontier Era Time Capsule

Joseph City & the Jackrabbit Trading Post

Lees Ferry – Crossing the Colorado River

Kingman – Gateway to Hoover Dam

Meteor City & Meteor Crater

Mining and Miners in Arizona

Mining the Investor in Arizona

Oatman – A Living Ghost Town

Old Convict’s Gravesite Near Safford

Old Spanish Trail

Petrified Forest National Park

Pipe Spring National Monument

Pleasant Valley War, aka Tonto Range War

Quirky Arizona

Chloride – A Ghost Town and Then Some

Yaba-Daba-Doo – Bedrock City

Pima Revolt of 1751

The Rise and Fall of Lowell, Arizona

Seligman – Pride in Pavement is King!

Tips For Traveling in the Desert

Tombstone – The Town Too Tough to Die

Walnut Grove Dam Disaster

Wham Paymaster Robbery Near Pima

Williams – Gateway to the Grand Canyon

Winslow – Frozen In Time

Writing Credits

Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area

You Know You’re in Arizona When…

© Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated February 2024.

Also See:

American Destinations

Mysterious Places in America

National Parks

Old West Destinations