Sunset Crater Nat'l Monument in Flagstaff, AZ was started in 1930 by President Herbert Hoover as a means to protect and preserve the geologic formations. The name was later changed to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument in 1990. Sunset Crater National Monument, surrounded by Coconino National Forest, is very large, consisting of 3,040 acres. The Monument shows many examples of scientific structures and artifacts from the original people that gave us the history of the area.
Many people lived in this area years ago before the great volcano erupted. Although they were referred to as the Sinagua culture, most of them were farmers living pit houses that were partially dug in the ground. Most of the people moved out before the volcano, which saved their lives.
Years later an explorer, one of many, named John Wesley Powell studied the area and was in awe of the beautiful landscape and pueblos, that were still well preserved. The local legend is that he named the area Sunset Crater because of the yellow and red colors of the rim.
The area began to come to life again in the 1800s when loggers, ranchers, miners and the railroad started working the land again. Tourism was soon to follow. In the 1920s Sunset Crater was about to be dynamited so a landslide could be created for a Hollywood movie. The local people fought and lobbied vehemently to prevent this from happening. They won the battle and this is when Hoover established and named Sunset Crater National Monument. In 1990, the word "volcano" was added to the name.
Each year the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument hosts over 200,000 guests and tourists. Many of these are tourists want to learn more about the recent eruption on the Colorado Plateau. Many schools bring their students her for field trips and learning experiences.
