Every March, Arizona comes alive with opportunities to uncover its rich and diverse history during Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month. Whether you're a lifelong history lover or just curious about the stories hidden beneath our feet, this month is packed with ways to connect to the past—and help preserve it for the future.

This statewide celebration brings together more than 40 federal, state, municipal, and private organizations to shine a light on the importance of preserving Arizona’s irreplaceable cultural resources.

Throughout March, you’re invited to participate in tours, lectures, hands-on activities, and more—all designed to help you explore the history and heritage that make Arizona unique. Find a full list of events at azstateparks.com/archy.

Explore Arizona’s State Historic Parks

Step into the past with a visit to Arizona’s State Historic Parks, where you’ll find museums, exhibits, and preserved sites that bring history to life.
Explore ancient pueblos and intricate petroglyphs that tell stories of Arizona’s earliest inhabitants at destinations like Homolovi and Lyman Lake state parks. Surround yourself with territorial history in towns like Tombstone and Jerome, where Arizona’s Wild West history unfolds in the museums and buildings of the state historic park in these towns.

Don't forget to pick up a Junior Ranger booklet during your state park visit! These hands-on activities for 6-12 year olds are designed to help kids connect with Arizona’s cultural heritage in fun and meaningful ways.

See all the state historic parks and start planning your trip at azstateparks.com/arizona-historic-parks.

Respecting the Past: Archaeological Site Etiquette

Some of Arizona's state parks and much of Arizona's public lands contain sensitive cultural areas important to people of the past and today. Visiting archaeological sites can be a powerful way to step back in time and learn about our past, but it’s important to do so with care and respect.

When exploring Arizona’s archaeological treasures, remember these key ways to help preserve them for the future:

• Leave artifacts where they are. Even the smallest items hold valuable clues to history, and moving them disrupts the context of their story.
• Stay on designated trails. This protects fragile artifacts and helps preserve the site for future visitors.
• Look, but don’t touch. Oils from our hands can cause lasting damage to ancient surfaces, petroglyphs, and structures.

Cultural sites are irreplaceable windows into Arizona’s past, and each visitor plays a role in protecting them. Learn more about visiting respectfully at azstateparks.com/archaeological-site-etiquette.

Inspire Future Preservationists with Arizona Project Archaeology

Want to bring Arizona’s fascinating history into the classroom? Arizona Project Archaeology offers a dynamic curriculum for 3rd–5th grade students, helping them discover cultures, explore how archaeologists work, and understand the importance of preserving heritage.

This Arizona Department of Education-approved program includes virtual field trips to archaeological sites across the state, hands-on workshops, and interactive activities. These resources are sure to bring archaeology to life for students in ways that inspire curiosity and respect for the past.

Explore the nine virtual field trips currently available at arizonaprojectarchaeology.com and spark a passion for Arizona's heritage in the next generation.

Tune In: The Many Sides of Historic Preservation

Feeling inspired by your state historic park visit or your virtual archaeological field trip? Keep noodling about what historic preservation really means and why it matters! Listen to this special podcast episode as Arizona State Historic Preservation Officer Kathryn Leonard shares how preservation connects us to our past, helps us understand our communities today, and offers practical benefits like economic incentives and community revitalization. Kathryn explains:

"Historic preservation, it is a profession, it is a practice, but it's really a way of thinking about the world around you. What do we value enough to want to carry forward into the future? It taps into the value of inquisitiveness. Why is this the way it is? What was here before? It's a mindset."

Listen to the full conversation for insights about how preservation plays a role in everyday life and how each of us can get involved in easy ways.

Discover, Learn, and Preserve

Whether you’re hiking through a site inhabited thousands of years ago, attending a lecture on preservation techniques, or inspiring students to become future archaeologists, Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month invites you to explore, learn, and protect the rich cultural history that makes Arizona special.