Navajo County, Arizona

A Canvas for Ideas A Gap in the Geologic Record A Relict Forest A.Z. Palmer and Sons Adjutant's Office (117) Agate Bridge Agate House American Astronaut Wall of Fame B.I.A. Club House (105) Barracks (115) Barracks Row Barringer Meteor Crater Big Sagebrush Boiler Plate 29A Boys' Dormitory (116) Brigham City Brigham City Cemetery Broadleaf Yucca Can You Read the Rocks....? Canyons in Time Captain's Quarters (102 and 103) Central Plaza Cliffrose Commanding Officers' Quarters (104) Commissary Storehouse (113) Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Desert Vistas Dinosaur Footprint Douglas Fir Early Explorers East Plaza First Commanding Officer's Quarters (101) From Wood to Stone G. & D. Hatch Mercantile Gambel Oak General Lot Smith Giant Logs Girls' Dormitory (120) Grizzlybear Pricklypear Guard House (114) Hatch Bros. General Store Henry R. Holbrook Historic Woodruff Snowflake Bridge Hogan Homol'ovi II How Long Has It Been? Illegal Digging Imagine Yourself Here Some Nine Hundred Years Ago Indian Rice Grass Into The Memory Jack Rabbit Trading Post, Joseph City, AZ Jasper Forest Jesse Nathaniel Smith Kinishba Ruins Kiva - Underground House La Posada Hotel La Posada Hotel, Winslow, Arizona Lakeside Let It Burn Life in the Village Little Colorado River Bridge Meaning of Place Mormon Pioneers Along the Little Colorado River Mormon Tea Navajo County Courthouse Newspaper Rock Newspaper Rock Petroglyphs Archeological District Non-Commissioned Officers' Quarters (110 & 111) Nuvatukya'ovi Officer's Quarters (106) Officers' Quarters (107, 108, 109) Old Guard House (115A) Paayu Painted Desert Community Complex Historic District Painted Desert Inn Parade Ground Pinedale School Bell Pinyon Pine Pioneers of Paleontology Prehistoric Pioneers Rabbit Brush Remembrance Garden Rodeo-Chediski Fire Roundleaf Buffaloberry Sandal Trail Santa Fe Railroad Serviceberry "show low and you win the ranch". Showlow Valley Settlement Shumway Schoolhouse Standin' on the Corner Park, Winslow, Arizona Stephen Tyng Mather Summer Solstice Marker Sunset Sunset Crossing Sweathouse T.R. School Cafeteria (119) T.R. School Teachers' Quarters (112) The Mauretta B. Thomas Pinedale Memorial Bridge The Old Fort The Painted Desert The Pygmy Conifer Forest - An Indian Store The Snowflake Monument The Winslow Bridge Theodore Roosevelt School (118) Travel on a Journey Through Time... Triassic Landscape Typical Room Upside-down Mountain Utah Juniper Vandalized Kiva Village on the Rio Puerco Voices in the Canyon Wagon Welcome to the Historic Contact Station Whispers from the Past White Mountain Apache War Memorial Wigwam Village #6 Winslow – Toreva Highway
Navajo County, located in the northeastern part of the state of Arizona, has a rich and diverse history that spans thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Navajo, Apache, and Hopi. These tribes lived in harmony with the land, relying on hunting, gathering, and agriculture for their sustenance.

In the 16th century, Spanish explorers ventured into the region, seeking gold and new territory. They encountered the Navajo and Apache, but faced resistance and were unable to establish a permanent presence. The Spanish influence, however, brought significant changes to the area, including the introduction of livestock and new crops, such as wheat and fruit trees.

In the mid-19th century, the United States government sought to establish control over the Southwest and displaced many Native American tribes, including the Navajo. This led to a series of conflicts between the U.S. military and the Native American tribes, ultimately resulting in the forced removal of thousands of Navajo people from their ancestral lands, known as the Long Walk of the Navajo.

After the Civil War, the region began to experience significant growth with the arrival of settlers and the expansion of the railroad. Navajo County was officially established in 1895, named after the Navajo people who had once inhabited the area. Ranching, mining, and agriculture played significant roles in the county's early economy. Over time, the county developed into a center for tourism, outdoor recreation, and education, with attractions such as the Petrified Forest National Park and the Navajo Nation Reservation drawing visitors from around the world.

Today, Navajo County continues to honor and preserve its rich cultural heritage while embracing new opportunities for economic development and growth. It remains a vibrant and diverse community that showcases the unique history and traditions of the Navajo and other Native American tribes.
Brief timeline of the history of Navajo County, Arizona:

  • 1879 - Navajo County is established by the Arizona Territorial Legislature.
  • 1880 - Holbrook is designated as the county seat.
  • 1896 - The first courthouse in Holbrook is constructed.
  • 1901 - The Navajo Indian Reservation is expanded, spreading into parts of Navajo County.
  • 1926 - Petrified Forest National Monument is established in Navajo County.
  • 1942-1945 - Navajo County is home to the Navajo Code Talkers, who played a critical role in World War II.
  • 1958 - The Navajo Generating Station, a major coal-fired power plant, begins operations near Page.
  • 1964 - The County Courthouse is relocated from Holbrook to its current location in Show Low.
  • 1970 - The closure of the Navajo Army Depot has a significant economic impact on the county.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Navajo County, Arizona.

Audiobooks about the history of Arizona.