10 Ridiculously Weird But Totally True Facts About Arizona

Did you know Arizona is home to the world's largest collection of miniature airplanes? How about the fact that the sunniest city on earth can be found in our state? There are plenty of quirky, fun facts about Arizona that sound made up. Here are 10 of the most unbelievable.

1. Arizona Is Home to the Sunniest City on Earth

Sunshine-filled Yuma, located in far southwestern Arizona near the U.S.-Mexico border, receives an average of 4,015 hours of sunshine per year. Phoenix and Tucson aren't far behind, but Yuma has the notoriety of being acknowledged in the Guinness World Records for its abundant amount of sun. In fact, Yuma might be the sunniest city in the entire world.

2. Most of the Grand Canyon State Does Not Observe Daylight Saving Time

Along with Hawaii, Arizona is the only other state that has left this agrarian custom behind. The only exception is the Navajo Nation, which does "spring forward" and "fall back." At the Hoover Dam on the Nevada and Arizona state border, you can see two clocks, marking the time for each state. For most of the year, they differ by one hour despite being on the same structure.

3. The World’s First McDonald’s Drive-Thru Is Located in Sierra Vista, AZ

To many, fast food and drive-thru service are synonymous, but this wasn't always the case. Before 1975, one could only order inside this golden-arched restaurant. The very first McDonald's drive-thru was created in Sierra Vista so that soldiers from nearby Fort Huachuca could get food without exiting their vehicles, as they were not permitted to walk around in uniform.

4. Kartchner Caverns State Park Was Kept Secret for Four Years

The vast cave system in Kartchner Caverns State Park was discovered in 1974 by two men named Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts. They didn't approach the property owners about their findings until 1978—they wanted to prevent word from spreading to protect the precious natural wonder. It didn't become a state park until 1988!

5. Arizona Has More National Monuments Than Any Other State, Except California

National monuments can be created via presidential decree instead of by an act of Congress, and our state is home to a staggering 19 of them. Pictured above is the beautiful Chiricahua National Monument in southeastern Arizona. Some other exceptional ones also include Canyon De Chelly National Monument in northeastern Arizona and Montezuma Castle National Monument in central Arizona.

6. Our State Is Home to a Town Run by Wild Burros

Okay, not quite—but kind of. The former mining boomtown of Oatman is unincorporated, so it doesn't have a mayor—but it does have plenty of wild burros roaming the streets! They're actually the descendants of animals used by workers to haul ore back in the day, who were released when the mines closed.

7. The London Bridge Is Actually Located Here in Arizona

Once spanning the River Thames, the famous bridge was built in the 1830s and sold to Lake Havasu City real estate developer Robert P. McCulloch in 1968. After the bridge was dismantled in London, its ten thousand-and-some bricks were shipped to Lake Havasu City, where they were reassembled and reinforced with steel framework and granite.

8. Arizona Boasts the World’s Largest Collection of Miniature Airplanes

You'll find the record-setting collection, which features nearly 6,000 models, in the Hazy Library & Learning Center at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott. It continues to hold the title of the largest to-scale collection of miniature airplane models with 5,825 aircraft models. Every piece in this collection of miniature military, commercial, private, and pre-flight models is built to a 1/18 inch-to-foot scale, with detailed markings to accurately reflect their larger counterparts.

9. You Can Travel From Mexico to Canada Without Leaving Arizona… Ecologically Speaking

Catalina Highway in Tucson is less than 30 miles long, yet it features the ecological equivalent of driving from the U.S.-Mexico border all the way up to Canada. At the start of the drive, you'll be surrounded by Sonoran Desert terrain, but by the time you ascend 6,000 feet in elevation, you'll have traveled through evergreen woodlands into an alpine forest ecosystem just like that found up in Canada!

10. The Sonoran Desert, in Which Parts of Arizona Are Located, Is the Only Place on Earth Where the Saguaro Cactus Grows Wild

These desert guardians are an iconic symbol of our state, and we wouldn't have it any other way. The Saguaro Cactus blossom, which blooms in spring, is also the state flower. To see some stunning vistas filled with these beautiful cacti, pay a visit to the Saguaro National Park, which is home to more than 2 million of these prickly icons.

There are many things that make the Grand Canyon State special, from the way Arizonans pronounce words to our many stunning natural wonders. Ready to begin your expedition in this breathtaking state? Download Only In Your State’s itinerary planner to plan your trip with the power of AI.