Perhaps no state holds as many surprises as Arizona. To outsiders, Arizona conjures up images of the Grand Canyon, the saguaro cactus, and the O.K. Corral. Those who have experienced this jewel of the Southwest, however, know that Arizona is all these things and much more. Arizona on My Mind brings you the many faces of this diverse state in words and pictures. No matter where you are, you can open this wonderful collection of images and find yourself transported to a world of stunning beauty. A world where the forces of nature-wind, water, and time-have shaped the landscape in fantastic and unusual ways. You'll see towering, snow-capped mountains; eerie, spire-like volcanic cores; seemingly bottomless canyons; and impossible rock formations. You'll find roaring waterfalls; quiet, tree-lined brooks; massive reservoirs; vast painted deserts, and endless blue skies. Arizona is a land of open spaces-quiet, remote places where you can look in all directions and see no trace of the hand of man. In other corners of the state man's influence is more apparent. Spectacular ancient Indian ruins, carved into the landscape itself, are a mysterious record of Arizona's earliest inhabitants. Flat-roofed adobe houses recall the architecture of Spanish settlers. Towns like Tombstone are a step back to the Old West, where cowboys still ride through the streets on horseback. And Arizona's major cities are bustling urban centers, where skyscrapers and universities have taken the place of pueblos and one-room schoolhouses. This unique combination of wild landscape, historical interest, and cultural diversity has drawn many of the nation's best photographers to Arizona, where every budding cactus, every grand vista, and every sunset is a momentary work of art waiting to be captured on film. For these reasons, many of these photographers call Arizona home. The photographs chosen for this book are beautiful-because Arizona is a beautiful place-but they also have that something extra, that ability to capture the true essence, the spirit, the magic of Arizona. Arizona's natural beauty and its people have also spawned a wealth of literature and other written and oral tributes. You'll find these scattered through this book as well. Zane Grey, John Wesley Powell, Walt Whitman, John Steinbeck, Willa Cather, Barry Goldwater, and many others help articulate this complicated land that can often seem indescribable. Whether you're an Arizona resident, a frequent visitor, or someone who simply enjoys a beautiful places, Arizona on My Mind is the perfect way to remember a special place and to dream of Arizona days to come.