The Petrified Forest & Painted Desert - Apache & Navajo Co., Arizona

DATE:  July 6, 2015

HISTORICAL SITE:  Petrified Forest National Park

LOCATION:  Apache & Navajo Co., Arizona

MARKER #:  75000217 & 76000185 & 87001421 & 05000284

DEDICATED:  October 10, 1975 & July 12, 1976 & May 28, 1987 & April 15, 2005

"This property has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior   1976   Newspaper Rock Petroglyphs Archaeological District"

"Painted Desert Inn has been designated a National Historic Landmark   This site possesses National significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America   1987   National Park Service   United States Department of the Interior"

"This property has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior   2005   Painted Desert Community Complex Historic District"

MARKER PLACED BY:  National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS: 

I was surprised to find out that although Dirk was born and raised in Arizona, he has never visited the Petrified Forest or Painted Desert. I remember my parents taking us as little girls and for some reason that has stuck with me and is the driving force behind my desire to see this area again.

While not as breathtaking as the Grand Canyon, you can see similarities and this place can still stop you in your tracks with its beauty.

At one point, Dirk and I were just standing and looking. We'd said all the oooh's and ahhh's and were quiet. I looked over at Dirk and he had this look on his face I have seen before and am in awe of. I'm not sure how to describe it other than to say it is joy and the quietness of a soul...if that makes sense. He then looked at me and said "God did good".

While it's officially the Petrified Forest National Park, the northern end extends into the Painted Desert and is known for fossilized trees from the late Triassic period, about 225 million years ago.

In the late 1800's, concern grew over the number of tourists visiting and removing artifacts. Arizona asked the U.S. government to create a Petrified Forest National Park.

Like the Grand Canyon, the journey to national park wasn't easy and like the Grand Canyon, Roosevelt had to use the Antiquities Act of 1906 to create the Petrified Forest National Monument in 1932 and finally it became a National Park in 1962. Several successive presidents have signed legislation to acquire additional land where the size is currently 218,533 acres.

As part of the super continent of Pangaea, this area was near the equator and had a sub-tropical climate.

Paleontologists have been working in the park since the early 20th century, finding Triassic plants, but also giant crocodile like reptiles called phytosaurs, large salamander like amphibians called Buettneria and early dinosaurs.

It is the same sediments that buried the tree's so they could fossilize, that has caused the Painted Desert is be so colorful and that sediment is estimated to be up to 800 feet deep.

There have been nine species of fossil trees identified here...all extinct. Driving through the park, you can see remnants of the tree's all over the place, some denser than others.

The sediment is also easily weathered giving the landscape its cliffs, gullies and rounded hills.

The earliest humans arrived at least 8,000 years ago. Mostly nomadic until about 2,000 years ago when humans built pueblos and were growing corn here.

As the climate changed, people moved out but more than 600 sites have been found to be archaeologically significant, including the petroglyphs site called Newspaper Rock.

The Hopi nation call it "Tutuveni" and the petroglyphs show the history of the Hopi Indian tribe carved into stone. The area contains about 5,000 petroglyphs estimated to be between 650 and 2,000 years old.

In 2008, Newspaper Rock was included on the Worlds Monument Watch List of endangered cultural sites. Sadly, along with the ancient petroglyphs is the graffiti of today. $100,000.00 later, the site is surrounded by a chain link fence and monitored by hidden cameras.

 
Until the 16th century, the only inhabitants were indigenous people. Then the Spaniards discovered this area while exploring Mexico and the southwest.

The first U.S. survey was in 1853, made by American explorers looking for good east to west routes. Soon a wagon trail was "built"...is that the right word? What do you call it..."carved" a wagon trail?

Homesteaders settled in the area and their cattle grazed within the borders of the park until the mid-20th century. Next came the railroad and finally, constant car traffic on Route 66 and now Interstate 40.

There are 3 sites designated as historical, the main complex, the petroglyphs and finally...the Painted Desert Inn.

Back in the 1920's, Herbert Lore built a tourist shop, lunch counter and trading post on the Kachina rim. In 1932, the U.S. government proclaimed the Painted Desert a national monument. Lore negotiated $59,400.00 out of the U.S. government for his land and building. $60k in 1932? Not bad at all.

The original inn was built using the petrified wood from the park and was called Stone Tree House. Using the parks natural resources was a bit frowned upon so they rebuilt the inn; that being completed by the Conservation Corps in 1937.

Ok, this is strange to me but they didn't want to use the parks resources that were ALREADY being used so they tear it down and use other natural resources. Maybe less scarce but I bet that petrified wood was going to last forever.

Hopi artist Fred Kabotie was hired to paint scenes of everyday Hopi life and ceremonies on the walls of the Inn. 

There was a bit more remodeling right after the war and it was used as a railway hotel from 1947 to 1963 and finally destruction was discussed in the mid-70's.

Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed and after major renovations, the inn reopened in 2006 as a museum. You walk through the building and can appreciate the craftsmanship and the painting, but then you look up and there is a beautiful stained glass ceiling.

I'm really glad we got the opportunity to see one of the U.S.'s beautiful National Park.

Southern Pacific Engine 2252 & Snowplow - Roseville, California

DATE VISITED:  03/28/2015

HISTORICAL SITE:  The Mighty 2252 & Snowplow

LOCATION:  Atlantic St. & Vernon St., Roseville, Placer Co., CA

DEDICATED:  October 13, 2004

"In the early 1900's a decision by Southern Pacific Railroad to relocate its regional operations to this helped turn a small town once known as Junction into the City of Roseville. Locomotive 2252 is a symbol of this history and of the social and economic impact of the railroad on Roseville.

The 2252 was manufactured by Cooks Locomotive & Machine Company of Patterson, New Jersey, in March 1897, as one of 38 identical T-1 class locomotives built that year. Only 2, the 2252 and the 2248 located in Texas, remain.

A locomotive is traditionally classified by wheel configuration. The SP 2252 is considered a 4-6-0 because the engine has 10 wheels consisting of four lead carry wheels, six large drive wheels, and no trailing carry wheels.

Originally numbered SP 1838, the engine became the 2252 when Southern Pacific's numbering system was changed in 1901. The locomotive was first used for freight service along the Donner Pass Line. On May 27, 1929, it was selected and equipped to fight snow-shed, brush, and forest fires along the Donner Pass route in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

 After nearly three decades as a firefighting locomotive, the 2252 was officially retired on February 27, 1956 and subsequently donated to Roseville through the efforts of the Roseville Junior Chamber of Commerce. On April 25, 1956, as part of the "Cinderama" celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of Southern Pacific's relocation to Roseville, it was placed on display at the Placer County Fairgrounds.

In 2001, the Community Coalition for the Relocation of the 2252 was formed when a planned expansion at the Fairgrounds made it necessary to consider options for relocating the locomotive. Thanks to the combined efforts of the Coalition, Roseville Historical Society, City of Roseville, Placer County Fair Board of Directors and the community an agreement was reached to place the 2252 on permanent display at this site.

On October 13, 2004, after a ceremony that featured a "bon voyage" christening by Roseville City officials and a train whistle salute by local students, the 70 ton locomotive was transported across the city. Today, the "Mighty 2252" steam locomotive stands as a vivid testament to Roseville's proud railroad heritage."

   

**closer look below

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS: I've gone by this monument several times knowing that at some point I'd make my way there. This monument is more of a local thing for Roseville although the history of the railroad in Roseville is well documented and has been recognized by both State and Federal historical designations.

The monument was so complete that I dont really have a lot to add. It must have cost them quite a bit! But to be honest, I really love one of the picture, I took and I can't just put some random picture, out there without an explanation, so I figured I'd just give the highlights in the life of the SP 2252. 

Next to the SP 2252, sat an older snowplow. It's history is also detailed on a plaque nearby, but it was the blades that I found so interesting.
 
But back to our SP 2252... 

1897 - built by Cooke, one of 38 identical locomotives built, given the designation as SP 1838...was used for freight on the Donner Pass line until something more powerful came along. 

1901 - SP changed their numbering system and the locomotive became SP 2252.

1929 - modified to become a "fire train". Was stationed at Cisco, Truckee, Summit or Blue Canyon. These trains were extremely important in fighting the wildfires started by other steam locomotives, particularly snow sheds at the higher elevations. They protected the route that was built in the 1860's by the Central Pacific Railroad as part of the Transcontinental Railroad. 

1950's - taken out of fire service with the introduction of diesel locomotives and modern firefighting methods.  

1956 - retired and put on display at the Placer County Fairgrounds. Only 2 survive to this day and only one, in Texas, is still in use.

2004 - moved to its current site at one of the entrances to old Roseville.

Once I was done, I checked to see what kind of restaurants were nearby and I saw a place called Chubby's. Remembering a friend at work had asked if I had ever been there...I figured it was time.

TripAdvisor review here.