Petrified Forest was preserved as a national monument in 1906, and then upgraded to a national park in 1962. However, souvenir hunters removed many of the most beautiful samples of petrified wood long before then.

And it's a good thing they did! Otherwise, there might not be so many gift shops outside the park selling the finest in petrified wood furnishings and apparel. Now, you can really bargain shop for the perfect pair of petrified wood earrings.