Petrified wood became the official state fossil of Arizona in 1988. Most of the petrified wood in Arizona can be found in the Petrified Forest in the northeastern part of the state. Millions of years ago, much of the area was covered by swamps. When trees fell, they became buried under layers of mud. Slowly the living material of the tree was replaced with minerals, leaving a brightly-colored rock replica of the plant.

Arizona's Flag

State Fossil: Petrified Wood 

Capital City: Phoenix (see map)

State Mammal: Ringtail

State Amphibian: Arizona Tree Frog

State Reptile: Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake

State Bird: Cactus Wren

State Tree: Palo Verde

State Fish: Apache Trout

State Flower: Saguaro Cactus Blossom