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The Twin Sisters petrified logs, Petrified Forest, AZ, circa 1935

Subjects
Forests & TreesHistoric Trees
Card type
Linen
Date
c. 1935 (Linen)
Front of The Twin Sisters petrified logs, Petrified Forest, AZ, circa 1935, J. R. Willis, NM, USA, c. 1935 linen postcard
Front
Back of The Twin Sisters petrified logs, Petrified Forest, AZ, circa 1935, J. R. Willis, NM, USA, c. 1935 linen postcard
Back

About this postcard

Two fallen petrified logs lie side by side in the Second Forest at Petrified Forest, Arizona. The caption names them the Twin Sisters because they match in size and coloring. The Second Forest section was known for wood that kept the fine grain and cell structure of the original trees, detail visible under a microscope and sometimes to the naked eye. The logs are the remains of Late Triassic trees that fell into river channels and were buried in sediment, their wood slowly replaced by silica over millions of years. Petrified Forest was set aside as a national monument in 1906, largely to stop the wholesale removal of the wood for souvenirs and abrasives, and by the 1930s it was a regular stop for motorists crossing northern Arizona.

Postcard Details

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PublisherJ. R. Willis
P.F. 32 THE TWIN SISTERS (IN SECOND FOREST) PETRIFIED FOREST, ARIZONA These prostrate logs are known as the "twin sisters" due to their similarity in size and coloring. The second forest is noted for the minute detail and grain of the wood, readily seen under the microscope, and in many cases with the naked eye.
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Postcard record

PublisherJ. R. Willis
SeriesP. F. 32 5A-H2544
ConditionVery good
Place mentionedJ. R. Willis, Albuquerque, NM
Place mentionedPetrified Forest, AZ
PublisherJ. R. Willis, Chicago, IL
NotesFine woven/ribbed texture across the image characteristic of linen-era stock; thin white margin at edges; small copyright mark '©' printed at lower left; no handwriting on front. No postmark; card is unused. Divided-back linen-texture card with white border; Curteich 'C.T. Art-Colortone' stock, card no. 5A-H2544, distributed by J. R. Willis of Albuquerque, N.M. Clean, no damage.

Cite this card

The Twin Sisters petrified logs, Petrified Forest, AZ, circa 1935, postcard, c. 1935. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/the-twin-sisters-petrified-logs-petrified-forest-az-circa-19. Accessed November 2, 2026.