1936-194
The CCC, created to give work and skills to many out of work young men during the depression, were the workers who built the new inn. The original petrified wood was hidden beneath a stucco exterior, built in tiers in similar style as the Pueblos.
The ceilings were constructed of ponderosa pine vigas (larger beams) and aspen savinos (smaller beams) from the forests of Arizona. The rooms were illuminated by punched tin light fixtures that were based on Mexican designs. Resembling the patterns on a Navajo rug, the floors of the dining room and porch were etched and painted. In the diningroom, the CCC were able to show off their carpentry in the form of carved furniture. But it was the skylight that revealed the artists of the CCC. The handpainted panels of the skylights were affected by the designs of prehistoric and historic Southwestern pottery.
The era of the CCC came to a close with the advent of World War II, the young men turned into soldiers.
The War Years
1940-1944
Copyright 2001 Hallie Larse
Skylight drawings based on originals by the CCC
Historic photo courtesy of Petrified Forest NP,
National Park Service