Meteor Crater
The crater sits in the high desert of northern Arizona, about 35 miles east of Flagstaff and 40 miles west of Winslow. It measures roughly 1,200 meters across and reaches a depth of 170 meters. A rim rises 48 meters above the surrounding plains, creating a squared-off outline that defies the circular shapes expected from such an explosion. This shape results from existing cracks in the rock layers at the impact site. The center is filled with rubble lying on top of the original bedrock. Despite being formed 50,000 years ago during the Pleistocene epoch, erosion has not erased its features. The dry climate of Arizona helped preserve this structure better than any other known crater on Earth.
In November 1891, Grove Karl Gilbert investigated the site as chief geologist for the U.S. Geological Survey. He concluded it was a volcanic steam explosion because no large magnetic anomaly existed within the rim. Gilbert argued that if a meteorite had struck there, the bulk of the object should still be buried underground. His calculations showed the volume of the crater matched the debris on the rim, meaning the hypothetical impactor was missing. Daniel M. Barringer disagreed with this assessment. He believed the crater was produced by a massive iron meteorite. Barringer incorporated the Standard Iron Company to mine the asteroid he thought lay beneath the floor. He estimated the meteorite weighed 10 million tons and valued the metal content at over one billion dollars in 1903 currency. For twenty-seven years, he drilled to depths of 1,280 meters searching for this nonexistent deposit. By 1928, he had spent $500,000 of his fortune, which equates to roughly $7 million today. No significant ore body was ever found before his death in 1929.
Daniel M. Barringer staked a mining claim on the land in the early 20th century after receiving a land patent signed by Theodore Roosevelt. The president also authorized a post office named Meteor near the site in 1906. This post office closed on the 15th of April 1912 due to disuse. Barringer's son Raymond continued the search after his father died. They drilled holes deeper than any previous attempt but found only vaporized rock fragments. The Standard Iron Company eventually became the Barringer Crater Company. Harvey Nininger, an American meteoriticist based in Denver, published a pamphlet titled A Comet Strikes the Earth in the 1930s. He moved his business to the Meteor Crater Observatory in 1942 and christened it the American Meteorite Museum. Nininger hoped to build a public museum on the rim to fund federal research. The Barringer family terminated his exploration rights when they felt he threatened their ownership. In 1953, the company constructed a private museum on the crater rim instead of selling the land to the government.
Eugene Shoemaker identified coesite and stishovite within the crater during investigations in the 1960s. These minerals are rare forms of silica that exist only where quartz-bearing rocks suffer instantaneous overpressure from impacts. Shocked quartz cannot be created by volcanic action or lightning alone. Edward C.T. Chao and Shoemaker confirmed these findings in 1960. Their work proved the impactor had generated extreme heat and pressure sufficient to vaporize most of its mass. F.R. Moulton had previously concluded the impactor weighed as little as 300,000 tonnes. This lower weight meant the bulk of the object turned to gas upon contact with the ground. Geologists used nuclear detonations like the Sedan crater to establish energy limits for the original strike. Shoemaker published his conclusions in a 1974 book titled Guidebook to the geology of Meteor Crater, Arizona. His discoveries helped shift scientific opinion away from volcanic theories toward impact mechanics.
During the 1960s and 1970s, NASA astronauts trained inside this crater to prepare for Apollo missions. They practiced lunar surface operations here because the terrain resembled the Moon's landscape. Field training continues at the site even today. In August 1964, two commercial pilots flew a Cessna 150 low over the rim. They could not maintain level flight after crossing the edge. The pilot attempted to circle back up but stalled and crashed into the fire. Both occupants survived despite severe injuries. A small portion of the wreckage remains visible at the crash site. The plane did not run out of fuel as commonly reported. The crater served as a critical testing ground for future spacewalkers who needed to understand how to move across uneven surfaces without gravity assistance.
Roughly 270,000 visitors travel to the site each year to view the crater. It is owned by the Barringer family through their Barringer Crater Company. This private ownership status makes it unique among major geological landmarks. The Visitor Center sits on the north rim and features interactive exhibits about meteorites and asteroids. An American Astronaut Wall of Fame honors those who trained there. Visitors can touch actual meteorite specimens found in the area. The center includes a movie theater and observation areas with views inside the rim. Guided tours of the rim are offered daily when weather permits. The Lunar and Planetary Institute calls it the best-preserved meteorite crater on Earth. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in November 1967. The site remains a popular tourist destination while serving as an active research facility for geologists and astronomers.
Common questions
Where is Meteor Crater located in Arizona?
The crater sits in the high desert of northern Arizona, about 35 miles east of Flagstaff and 40 miles west of Winslow. It measures roughly 1,200 meters across and reaches a depth of 170 meters.
Who discovered that Meteor Crater was formed by an impact instead of volcanic activity?
Eugene Shoemaker identified coesite and stishovite within the crater during investigations in the 1960s to prove the impact origin. Edward C.T. Chao and Shoemaker confirmed these findings in 1960, showing that shocked quartz could not be created by volcanic action or lightning alone.
When did Daniel M. Barringer die after drilling for the meteorite at Meteor Crater?
Daniel M. Barringer died in 1929 after spending $500,000 of his fortune over twenty-seven years searching for the deposit. No significant ore body was ever found before his death despite drilling holes deeper than any previous attempt.
Why does Meteor Crater have a squared-off outline instead of being circular?
A rim rises 48 meters above the surrounding plains creating a squared-off outline that defies the circular shapes expected from such an explosion. This shape results from existing cracks in the rock layers at the impact site.
How many visitors travel to Meteor Crater each year today?
Roughly 270,000 visitors travel to the site each year to view the crater. It is owned by the Barringer family through their Barringer Crater Company which maintains a Visitor Center on the north rim.