Welcome to Arizona

WELCOME TO ARIZONA

Arizona is a young state but an old country. Organized as a territory in 1863, it became a state in 1912. It is a state of contrast. While mountains tower over a mile high, the rivers have cut miles deep into the earth. Modern planes fly over Indian lands where people live as they did hundreds of years ago. There are great desert areas but the state has the world's largest pine forest. Ancient civilizations have come and gone but they left their mark in the state. There were the Ancient Ones who built irrigation projects and built cliff dwellings . When we talk of an Arizonian who do we mean, the Indians who were here first, or Mexicans who may be descended from seventeenth century invaders? Do we speak of the pioneer who had to fight every step he went west, or do we talk of the person who came here in the 1950s and '60s . . .

Photo-color by Merle Porter

postmarked 1981