Agatized Rainbows: A Story of the Petrified Forest

A naturalist’s account of the colorful petrified wood deposits of northern Arizona that combines visitor anecdotes, practical guidance, and natural-history explanation. It traces destructive early collecting and commercial exploitation, the campaign for protection under the Antiquities Act, and the establishment of the monument, then describes the major concentrations known as the First, Second, Third, Black, Rainbow, and Blue Forests. Museum exhibits, roadside access, and the variety of agatized log colors and badland scenery are presented alongside an emphasis on stewardship and the importance of preserving specimens for public enjoyment.