Chiricahua National Monument is located in southeastern Arizona about 40 miles southeast of Willcox. It was set aside as a national monument on April 18, 1924, by proclamation by then president Calvin Coolidge. The monument preserves an exceptional landscape characterized by weirdly beautiful pinnacles and columns eroded in volcanic rocks high in a forested range.
The vintage postcards in this exhibit depict scenes of areas that are in Chiricahua National Monument. The postcards date from the middle twentieth century to the 1970s. The actual text printed on the postcards is in quotation marks.
Click on the thumbnail image for a full-size view of the postcard.
"Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona". Black & white real photo postcard. Published by L. L. Cook Co., Milwaukee. Number C-154. Postmarked 1942.
"Wonderland of Rocks, Arizona". Black & white real photo postcard. Published by L. L. Cook Co., Milwaukee. Number C-372. Probably dates from early 1940s.
"Wonderland of Rocks, Arizona". Black & white real photo postcard. Publisher not given. Number B381. Postmarked 1943.
"Wonderland of Rocks, Arizona". Black & white real photo postcard. Publisher not given. Number B377. Probably dates from early 1940s.
"Chiricahua National Monument, southeastern Arizona, an amazing wonderland of eroded rock formations accessible from Highways 666 or 80. Volcanic in origin, the 10,694 acre area is a mass of balancing rocks, pinnacles, spires, minarets". Printed color linen-texture postcard. Published by Union Oil company of Calif. Number 113. Copyright 1941.
"Helmeted Lady, Wonderland of Rocks, Willcox, Ariz.". Black & white real photo postcard. Publisher not given. Probably dates from 1940s.
"Sugar Loaf Mountain, Wonderland of Rocks, Arizona". Black & white real photo postcard. Published by L. L. Cook Co., Milwaukee. Number E-61. Postmarked 1947.
"Wonderland of Rocks, Arizona". Black & white real photo postcard. Published by L. L. Cook Co., Milwaukee. Number B-379. Postmarked 1948.
"Totem section, Ryolite Park, Wonderland of Rocks. Ryolite Park is located near Douglas, Arizona. It is a land of queer-shaped rocks that stand out like carved totem poles". Printed color linen-texture postcard. Published by Herz Post Cards, San Diego, Calif. Number 9-2092. Probably dates from 1940s.
"The Heart of Rocks, Chiricahua Nat'l Monument, Arizona". Black & white real photo postcard. Publisher not given. Number 6-Y-261. Probably dates from 1940s.
"The Kissing Rocks, Chiricahua Nat'l Monument, Ariz.". Black & white real photo postcard. Publisher not given. Number 6-Y-263. Probably dates from 1940s.
"In the Heart of Rocks, Chiricahua Nat'l Monument, Arizona". Black & white real photo postcard. Publisher not given. Number 6-Y-266. Probably dates from 1940s.
"Looking down into Wonderland of Rocks, Chiricahua Nat'l Monument, Arizona". Black & white real photo postcard. Published by Frashers Fotos. Distributed by Lollesgard Specialty Co., Tucson, Arizona. Probably dates from the late 1940s.
"Wonderland of Rocks, Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona". Black & white real photo postcard. Publisher not given. Postmarked 1947.
"Nature's sculpturing, queer rock shapes caused by erosion, Wonderland of Rocks, Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona". Black & white real photo postcard. Published by Frashers Fotos. Distributed by Lollesgard Specialty Co., Tucson, Arizona. Probably dates from the late 1940s.
"Big Balanced Rock near Douglas, Arizona. Chiricahua (great mountain) National Monument, the wonderland of rocks amidst hundreds of pillars and pinnacles, the big balanced rock, a 16 ton behemouth, supported by a base only inches in diameter". Printed color linen-texture postcard. Published by Colourpicture Publication, Boston 15, Mass. Distributed by Tempe Distributing Co. Number K 1548. Probably dates from the 1940s.
"Rock formations, "Wonderland of Rocks", Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona. Balance Rock. Donald Duck. Punch and Judy". Printed color linen-texture postcard. Published by Lollesgard Specialty Co., Tucson, Arizona. Printed by Curteich, Chicago. Number 2B-H1534. Number C-16. Postally used but no postmark. Published in 1942.
"Wonderland of Rocks Road, Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona". Black & white real photo postcard. Published by Frashers Fotos. Number X323. Distributed by Lollesgard Specialty Co., Tucson, Arizona. Probably dates from the late 1940s.
"Wild Horses near the Wonderland of Rocks, Chiricahua Nat'l Monument, Ariz.". Black & white real photo postcard. Published by Frashers, Inc., Pomona, Calif. Number X306. Probably dates from the late 1940s.
"Wonderland of Rocks. Chiricahua National Monument. Near Douglas, Arizona. Nature has fashioned an unusual rock formation through the erosive agency of wind and water". Printed color linen-texture postcard. Published by Max Kegley Co., Phoenix, Arizona. Number 18. Probably dates from very late 1940s.
"Echo Canyon, Wonderland of Rocks, Arizona". Black & white real photo postcard. Published by Western Ways, Tucson, Arizona. Number WR-8. Probably dates from very early 1950s.
"Thor's Hammer, Wonderland of Rocks, Arizona". Black & white real photo postcard. Published by Western Ways, Tucson, Arizona. Number WR-3. Probably dates from very early 1950s.
"Totem Pole, Wonderland of Rocks, Arizona". Black & white real photo postcard. Published by Western Ways, Tucson, Arizona. Number WR-2. Probably dates from very early 1950s.
"Cochise Head. Named after the old Apache chief, this formation of rock preserves his profile in stone. It is viewed from beside the Massai Point Road at Chiricahua National Monument -- The Wonderland of Rocks -- in southeastern Arizona". Printed color chrome-style postcard. Natural Color Card. Published and distributed by Bob Petley, Phoenix, Arizona. Number K159. Probably dates from early 1950s.
"Punch and Judy, Chiricahua National Park, southern Arizona. This fantastic formation eroded from volcanic deposits in the Heart of Rocks area, ...". Printed color chrome-style postcard. Natural Color Card. Published and distributed by Bob Petley, Phoenix, Arizona. Number P31291. Number SARZ 1. Probably dates from 1950s.
"Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona. "Wonderland of Rocks" with varicolored monoliths carved by erosion into grotesque figures, a paradise for tourists and sightseers". Printed color chrome-style postcard. Published by Frye & Smith, San Diego, California. Number 53161. Probably dates from 1950s.
"Balanced Rock. Probably the most unusual of the many grotesque and interesting rock formations to be found in the "Wonderland of Rocks", Chiricahua National Monument in southern Arizona". Printed color chrome-style postcard. Natural Color Card. Published and distributed by Bob Petley, Phoenix, Arizona. Number K149. Postmarked 1957.
"China Boy, natural rock formation. Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona. This view was taken on Massai Point Drive. This paved mountain road leads up Bonita Canyon to China Boy...". Printed color chrome-style postcard. Published by F. J. Schaaf, Alamogordo, New Mexico. Number S-15911. Number 326. Probably dates from 1950s.
"In the heart of the rocks. Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona. Contained in the area of the Chiricahua National Monument are the fantastic shapes in stone, carved by rain, wind, and freezing water. ...". Printed color chrome-style postcard. Published by F. J. Schaaf, Alamogordo, New Mexico. Number ICS-15916. Number 206. Probably dates from 1950s.
"Duck on the Rock, Chiricahua National Monument. Here in southern Arizona nature has fashioned an unusual rock formation through the erosion of wind and water". Printed color chrome-style postcard. Published by Petley Studios, Phoenix, Arizona. Number 8C-K1044. Probably dates from 1960s.
"Heart of Rocks, Chiricahua National Monument, southern Arizona. South of the Willcox area on State Highway 86, and not far from the New Mexico-Arizona state line". Printed color chrome-style postcard. Published by Petley Studios, Phoenix, Arizona. Number ODK-806. Probably dates from 1960s.
"Greetings from Chiricahua. Chiricahua National Park, Southern Arizona. Left: Punch and Judy. Right: Anchorage Rock". Printed color chrome-style postcard. Published by Bob Petley, Phoenix, Arizona. Number P31292. Probably dates from 1960s.
"Big Balanced Rock -- largest of the many balanced rocks in "Wonderland of Rocks," Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona". Printed color chrome-style postcard. Published by Petley Studios, Phoenix, Arizona. Number C2964. Probably dates from 1960s.
"Heart of rocks, Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona. This view shows the Big Balance Rock in the heart of the rocks. The monument contains one of those areas where mother nature has gone spectacular. The wind, rain, and temperature have worked on the rock strata to carve it into fantastic shapes. Located in the southeast part of Arizona near Douglas, and Wilcox, Arizona and Lordsburg, N. M.". Printed color chrome-style postcard. Published by F. J. Schaaf, Alamogordo, New Mexico. Number 205. Number S-8176-3. Probably dates from 1960s.
"Chiricahua National Monument. Where the winds of the ages performed a miracle in artistry in carving wierd and wonderful shapes from mountains of stone. Many camping and picnic stops. Can be reached either from Bowie or Willcox, Arizona". Printed color chrome-style postcard. Published by Phoenix Specialty Adv. Co., Phoenix, Arizona. Number 13560. Probably dates from 1960s.
"Chiricahua National Monument. Chiricahua National Monument, often called the "Wonderland of Rocks", is one of America's most beautiful scenic wonders". Printed color chrome-style postcard. Published by Freelance Products Co., Phoenix, Arizona. Number 038. Probably dates from 1970s.
"Cochise Head. The mountain resembling the face of Cochise recalls a time when this great Apache warrior lived and fought in this Chiricahua wilderness". Printed color chrome-style postcard. Published by Freelance Products Co., Phoenix, Arizona. Number 099. Probably dates from 1970s.
"China Boy. Chiricahua National Monument. A rhyolite rock formation called 'China Boy' can be seen in the upper Bonita Canyon along a six mile scenic drive through Chiricahua National Monument". Printed color chrome-style postcard. Published by Impact, Concord, CA. Number 2010. Number G-1651. Copyright 1981.
Here is a humorous postcard to finish the exhibit: "You see the derndest sights out here - "Look at that odd shape with the peculiar bulges!". "-An' lookit th' ol' stone face - I'll bet she's a million years old". "Humphrey! Are you going to stand there and let them say things like that about me?"" Printed color linen-texture postcard. Distributed by Lollesgard Specialty Co., Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona. Published by Curteich, Chicago. Reg Manning Travelcard, Number 37. Copyright 1948. Postmarked 1949.
ARTICLE
Click here to read an article I wrote about Chiricahua National Monument.
Chiricahua National Monument Passport Cancellation Stamps
BOOKS
Books about Chiricahua National Monument that are currently available:
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