When Did Meteor Crater Become a Tourist Attraction?

Meteor Crater (also known as Barringer Crater) in Arizona began its life as a tourist destination in 1903. That year, mining engineer Daniel Barringer, convinced the crater was formed by a meteorite impact (a theory then contested), formed the Meteor Crater Observation Association Inc. His goal was twofold: to mine the site for the massive iron meteorite he believed lay beneath the floor, and to attract scientists and curious visitors to validate his theory. While the mining venture never found the main mass, the Association successfully turned the site into a roadside attraction. Today, it remains a privately owned, world-class facility featuring a museum, observation decks, and guided rim tours, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to the best-preserved meteorite impact site on Earth.