Painted Rocks
National Register of Historic Places

Painted Rocks

Theba, Maricopa County, Arizona
Listed
November 25, 1977
Type
Site
Period
Modern
Ref No.
77000238

About this property

The Painted Rock Petroglyph Site is a collection of hundreds of ancient petroglyphs near the town of Theba, Arizona, United States, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The site is operated and maintained by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and includes an improved campground as well as an informative walking trail showcasing the petroglyphs. Prior to 1989, the site was part of Painted Rock State Park, which included camping facilities on the nearby Painted Rock Reservoir, referred to as the "Lake Unit". When the state turned control of the park over to the BLM in 1989, the Lake Unit was closed due to concerns over pollutants in the Gila River and is not maintained by the BLM. Currently, there is no public access to Painted Rock Dam or the Lake Unit.

Location

Theba, Maricopa County, Arizona
33.02340, -113.04942

Categories

PREHISTORIC
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Painted Rocks

This page lists Painted Rocks. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Painted Rocks report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Stout's Hotel
Industrial
20 mi
Gila Bend Overpass
Industrial
21.1 mi
MacLennan House
Industrial
21.3 mi
Gillespie Dam Highway Bridge
Industrial
21.5 mi
Hassayampa River Bridge
Civil War
29.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Painted Rocks listed on the National Register?

Painted Rocks was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 25, 1977.

What type of historic resource is Painted Rocks?

Painted Rocks is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Painted Rocks?

The period of significance for Painted Rocks is recorded as the modern era, specifically around 1989.

Can I research the history near Painted Rocks?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Painted Rocks will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Maricopa County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Maricopa County.

Explore MaricopaCounty ›

More historic places in Arizona

Browse all historic places in Arizona.

View Arizonahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Arizona history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Arizonahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Painted Rocks will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report