When I heard we were traveling to Meteor Crater, I was probably less than enthused. But it turned out to be a truly interesting spot with a lot of history and the chance to learn more about meteors, meteorites and geology than I thought possible. Meteor Crater is located 35 miles east of Flagstaff in northern Arizona and is well worth the drive.

The meteor that formed Meteor Crater slammed in to the earth approximately 50,000 years ago and it is estimated that the mass that hit weighed millions of tons. The hole left in the ground is 550 deep, nearly a mile across and about 2.5 miles in circumference. Whatever was in the area at the time was devastated, not to mention the surrounding areas that experienced the massive shockwave. Meteor Crater is set up with several levels, an observation deck and multiple telescopes to observe the more interesting points of the sight that might otherwise go unnoticed to the naked eye. Be sure to look for the little “moon man” situated at the bottom of the crater.

Meteor Crater is touted as the best preserved meteor impact site in the world and the visitor’s center and accompanying exhibits are thought-provoking for all ages. There are hands-on experiments dealing with magnetism, weight and meteor varieties. There are also multi-media displays of various meteor impacts around the world. Guided tours of the massive site are available and the theatre program covers a history of the site and illustration of what happened to the earth when the meteor hit. The desert vistas and the huge impact sight is something that can only truly be appreciated in person. Pictures just don’t quite do it justice. We particularly liked to watch shadows of clouds moving across the massive depression.

We learned that most meteor sites around the world have been eroded away by wind and rain, so we are lucky that such a pristine site exists in Arizona. It is privately owned by the Barringer family and the Department of the Interior declared the site a natural landmark in 1968. From 1964-1972 training was conducted by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey for the Apollo astronauts and it is interesting to see the space test capsule at the entrance. Important advancements in cratering mechanics and the science of meteoritics have been developed at Meteor Crater. Even today, the site is still used for scientific research.

Meteor Crater is a great destination that offers something more than a giant water slide or requisite video arcade. It is important to the history of the state of Arizona and our earth. Meteor Crater features an exceptional gift/lapidary shop and a Subway restaurant.