Map of Land Affected by the Treaty
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in 1848, ending the war between Mexico and the United States. In return for fifteen million dollars from the United States, Mexico gave up the land that became California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Texas also became part of the United States.
Arizona State Flag
Arizona became the forty-eighth state of the United States in 1912. The word Arizona derives from a Pima or Papago word meaning, place of small springs. It was relatively unpopulated until the wide spread use of air conditioners. It still faces the problem of water scarcity. Arizona is the sixth largest state and the fourteenth most populated. The bolo tie is the state’s official neckwear. Children could visit an Internet site at: Arizona.
View from the North Rim
Grand Canyon National Park was created in 1919. Over millions of years the Colorado River has cut a deep gorge through Arizona. The park occupies over one million acres of land. Children can visit a website at: http://www.nps.gov/grca. They can also read more at: Grand Canyon.
Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam (originally Boulder Dam) was dedicated in 1936. The dam, located at the border of Nevada and Arizona, captures water from the Colorado River. Constructed between 1931 and 1936, it was a marvel at the time and remains an amazing structure. The dam created Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States. The dam controls flood waters and provides hydroelectric power to Nevada, Arizona, and California. It is also quite a tourist attraction. Children can learn some SUPER facts at: Hoover Dam.
London Bridge, Lake Havasu City, Arizona
London Bridge was moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, in 1971. Spanning the River Thames, London Bridge was built in 1831. However, by around 1970 the bridge was not structurally sound for modern traffic. The government planned to dismantle it. Robert P. McCulloch, founder of Lake Havasu City, purchased the bridge. The pieces were dismantled, numbered, shipped to Arizona, and reassembled. The bridge, connecting portions of Lake Havasu City, has become a tourist attraction.
Petrified Forest
Petrified Forest National Park was founded in 1962. In addition to the magnificent Petrified Forest, visitors can find Indian ruins and parts of the Painted Desert. Children can visit the Arizona park’s website to examine amazing photographs, great interactive activities, story hour, and even coloring sheets at: http://www.nps.gov/pefo.