I MADE A BAD MISTAKE

Letters of Apology to the Petrified Forest

In 2014, the following letters, and many others, were reprinted in the fantastic book, Bad Luck, Hot Rocks, edited by Ryan Thompson & Phil Orr. Highly recommended.

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Photo: Getty

Each year, countless visitors to Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park ignore the stark warnings at its boundaries, spiriting away roughly 12 tons of its ancient, fossilised wood and stones—invaluable fragments of prehistory that rarely reappear. But some are returned, accompanied, more often than not, by a written apology that is soon archived in the park’s museum alongside hundreds of other “conscience letters.” Tales of remorse, guilt, and superstition can be found in these notes, with many confessing to a series of misfortunes and inexplicable bad luck since taking the petrified wood. Some speak of ruined relationships, financial disasters, and persistent health issues, attributing their woes to the stolen relics. These heartfelt pleas for forgiveness and the desperate return of the stolen pieces have become an unexpected and poignant part of the park’s history.

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feb. 13

dear sir,

i am writing this letter in hopes of easing my conscience and saving the most important thin of my life, my marriage. Against my better judgement, I removed three rocks which my husband discovered hidden in my brassiere. Since then, being a true christian, he has constantly told me of my wrong doing. i’m afraid that our marriage is on the rocks. i want all of my eight children to see your park in the same condition that i saw it in. i am keeping one rock to remind me of the lesson in learned the hard way. i am enclosing twenty cents for you to buy another rock to replace the one i am keeping as a toke of my guilt. i would appreciate it if you would by one to replace the other very much. it would ease my burdened conscience. also enclosed are the other two rocks. please forgive me, and keep up the good work. 

thank you 

Mrs. P

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September 6, 1975

I took these stones when I was their in August on my vacation, and since I’ve been home as of this day, had nothing but bad luck.

1. I brought a beautiful vase from Mexico my daughter broke it.

2. a couple of weeks later my dog was killed by an automobile instantly.

3. I found out my sister-in-law is dying of Luekemia 

4. and now my cat was just killed, by the dogs next door.

So take this Petrified Wood or Stone what ever you call it and keep the bad luck there, I was fine until I brought them into my home.

R.P.

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7-29-83

Dear Sir,

I came on vacation went through your Forest. I did not believe that anything would happen but here is what has happened to me that is why I am sending the rocks back to you. On the first morning my wife gave me a Vitamin Pill, it lodged in my throat, I thought that was the end of me. Next we went on to Grand Canyon, got in my Van the next day, the van would not start, cost me $256.00 to get the van going, on the way the fans in the van would not stop running had to pull the wire loose form the fan to get it stop. so I don’t think I need the rocks I picked up so I am sending them back to you. sorry I i got them in the first place. Oh yes the radio in the van stop working and my C.B. won’t work so you see why I am sending your rocks back.

Sincerely yours,
James

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August 1980

To whom it may Concern:

While on vacation this summer we toured through the beautiful Petrified Forest National Park. Upon leaving my husband took these pieces enclosed with him as souvenirs; now after all the bad luck we have had I am returning them where they belong.

Upon returning home we first found that my step mother had kidney failure, then our dog died, our central air conditioning went out and our freezer. I had a really close call in having a bad auto accident, our truck broke down needing major repairs, our cat was killed and last night close by our home a gas well blew out a cap causing us to be evacuated from our home for a while.

So Please take these pieces back before we have any more bad luck and accept our deepest apologies. 

Thanks,

No name Please.

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Bad Luck, Hot Rocks: Conscience Letters and Photographs from the Petrified Forest. Edited by Ryan Thompson & Phil Orr. Published by The Ice Plant.

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