Arizona – Eloray

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (Claytondodge9, Wikimedia CCA 4.0)

Let’s Visit Arizona

Join our virtual tour highlighting the top tourist attractions in Arizona.
For an overview of the state, see: National Geographic Kids. Arizona

Highlights

Let’s learn more about some fascinating places worth seeing in Arizona.

Grand Canyon National Park (Northern Arizona): One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon is renowned for its immense size and breathtaking views. Carved by the Colorado River, the canyon attracts millions of visitors annually for hiking, rafting, and sightseeing.
Sedona Red Rock Country (Sedona): Known for its striking red rock formations, Sedona is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and spiritual seekers. It offers scenic hiking trails, stunning vistas, and is famous for its energy vortexes believed to promote healing.
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park (Northeastern Arizona): Located on the Arizona-Utah border, Monument Valley is famous for its towering sandstone buttes and has been the backdrop for countless Western films. The area is rich in Navajo culture and history.
Saguaro National Park (Tucson): This park is home to the giant saguaro cactus, a symbol of the American Southwest. Visitors come to admire these towering cacti, hike through the desert landscape, and enjoy the stunning desert sunsets.
Antelope Canyon (Page): A photographer’s paradise, Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon known for its narrow passageways and swirling, colorful sandstone formations. The canyon is famous for the light beams that shine through, creating a magical atmosphere.
Horseshoe Bend (Page): Just outside of Page, Horseshoe Bend is a dramatic, horseshoe-shaped curve in the Colorado River. The site offers stunning panoramic views and is a favorite spot for photographers and adventurers alike.
Petrified Forest National Park (Northeastern Arizona): This park is famous for its ancient, fossilized trees that have turned to stone over millions of years. Visitors can explore the colorful desert landscape, filled with petrified wood, historic ruins, and unique geological formations.
Tombstone (Southern Arizona): Known as The Town Too Tough to Die, Tombstone is a historic Wild West town famous for the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Visitors can explore its preserved 19th-century buildings, reenactments, and museums that capture the spirit of the Old West.
Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden (Phoenix): Located in Papago Park, the Phoenix Zoo is one of the largest non-profit zoos in the U.S., featuring a wide range of animals. Nearby, the Desert Botanical Garden showcases the unique flora of the desert, including cacti and other arid plants.
Taliesin West (Scottsdale): Once the winter home and architectural studio of Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesin West is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can tour this stunning example of organic architecture, which blends seamlessly with the desert landscape.

Intriguing mysteries and weird facts

Discover these little-known facts about Arizona.

Arizona doesn’t observe Daylight Saving Time: Unlike most of the U.S., Arizona stays on standard time year-round. So, while other states change their clocks, Arizona keeps things simple, except on the Navajo Nation, which does observe it.
It’s home to the largest meteor crater in the U.S.: The Barringer Crater, located near Winslow, is nearly a mile wide and was created about 50,000 years ago by a massive meteorite. It’s the best-preserved meteor impact site in the world.
Arizona has more national monuments than any other state: With 18 national monuments, Arizona leads the country. These include stunning natural landmarks like the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument and historic sites like Tuzigoot.
The London Bridge is in Arizona: The actual London Bridge, once spanning the River Thames in England, was dismantled and rebuilt in Lake Havasu City in the 1960s. It’s one of the state’s most unusual tourist attractions.
Arizona was the last of the contiguous U.S. states to become a state: Arizona was admitted to the Union on February 14, 1912, making it the 48th and final of the contiguous states to gain statehood.
You can’t let a donkey sleep in a bathtub: In Arizona, there’s a bizarre law that makes it illegal for donkeys to sleep in bathtubs. This strange rule dates back to the 1920s when a donkey got caught in a flood while snoozing in a bathtub.
Lake Havasu City is home to the hottest temperature ever recorded in the state: On June 29, 1994, Lake Havasu City reached a scorching 128°F (53°C), one of the hottest temperatures ever recorded in the U.S.
Arizona has the world’s largest solar telescope: Kitt Peak National Observatory, located near Tucson, is home to the world’s largest solar telescope, which is used to study the sun and space phenomena.
Arizona has the most Native American land: Nearly 25% of Arizona is Native American land, home to 22 federally recognized tribes, including the Navajo Nation, which is the largest in the U.S.
Cacti theft is a serious crime: It’s illegal to cut down or remove a saguaro cactus, which is a protected species in Arizona. Stealing or damaging one can lead to hefty fines or even jail time.

Notable People

Here are 10 famous men and women from Arizona.

Famous Men

Senator John McCain (1936-2018) (US Congress, Wikimedia Commons)

Cesar Chavez (1927–1993): Born in Yuma, Arizona, Cesar Chavez was a civil rights leader and labor organizer who co-founded the United Farm Workers union. He fought for better working conditions and wages for agricultural laborers, becoming a symbol of workers’ rights.
Barry Goldwater (1909–1998): Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Barry Goldwater was a five-term U.S. senator and the Republican Party’s nominee for president in 1964. He is considered one of the fathers of the modern conservative movement in American politics.
Steven Spielberg (1946–): Although born in Ohio, Steven Spielberg spent part of his childhood in Phoenix, Arizona. He is one of Hollywood’s most influential filmmakers, known for directing blockbuster films like Jaws, E.T., Jurassic Park, and Schindler’s List.
Frank Luke (1897–1918): Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Frank Luke was a World War I fighter pilot known as the Arizona Balloon Buster. He became the first airman to receive the Medal of Honor for his heroism in combat.
John McCain (1936–2018): Though born in Panama, John McCain was a long-time U.S. senator from Arizona. A Vietnam War hero and POW, he became the Republican nominee for president in 2008 and was a key figure in American politics for decades.

Famous Women

Sandra Day O’Connor (1930–): Born in El Paso, Texas, and raised on a ranch in Arizona, Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1981. She served for 25 years and was known for her balanced and pragmatic approach to the law.
Linda Ronstadt (1946–): Born in Tucson, Arizona, Linda Ronstadt is a Grammy-winning singer known for her versatility in genres ranging from rock to country to Latin music. She is one of the most successful and acclaimed female artists in U.S. history.
Emma Stone (1988–): Raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, Emma Stone is an Academy Award-winning actress known for her roles in films such as La La Land, The Help, and Easy A. She is recognized as one of Hollywood’s top leading actresses.
Lynda Carter (1951–): Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Lynda Carter is best known for her iconic role as Wonder Woman in the 1970s TV series. She became a symbol of female empowerment and is also a successful singer and advocate.
Jordin Sparks (1989–): Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Jordin Sparks is a singer and actress who gained fame after winning American Idol in 2007. She is known for her hit singles like No Air and Tattoo, as well as her Broadway and film work.

Date of Ratification of the Articles of Confederation/
Admission to the Union

February 14, 1912 (48th)

State Capital and Government

Arizona State Capitol Building in Phoenix (Jeff Dean, Wikimedia Commons)

Phoenix
Government of Arizona

Area and Total Population

Area: 113,593 square miles

Total Population: 6,731,000

Major cities and their population

City	Population
Phoenix	1,650,000
Tucson	547,000
Mesa	512,000
Chandler	280,000
Glendale	254,000
Scottsdale	244,000
Tempe	190,000
Yuma	101,000
Flagstaff	70,000
Lake Havesu	59,000
Prescott	48,000
Sedona	10,000