Bad Luck, Hot Rocks: Conscience Letters and Photographs from the Petrified Forest

“In 2012, Ryan Thompson and Phil Orr began a project called “Bad Luck, Hot Rocks” cataloging the more than 1200 “conscience letters” and accompanying pieces of pilfered rock sent to Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. Many letter writers believe that stealing the rocks brought them bad luck, but the returned rocks cannot be placed back into the park, for fear of disturbing research sites, so they are stacked in a “conscience pile” alongside a gravel access road. Thompson made a follow-up volume documenting more stolen rocks: AH AH AH: Conscience Letters and Photographs from the Haleakalā and Hawai'i Volcanoes National Parks.”

“For years, folks have been warned that if you steal petrified wood from the Petrified Forest National Park, or any similar park, a CURSE of bad luck will follow you home. Bad Luck, Hot Rocks is a beautifully catalogued art project featuring those repentant souls who, over the decades, mail the stolen treasures back to the park, often with detailed accounts of their tribulations. A really funny read that was hard to find for a bit, but is more readily available now! Most friends I've given it to end up buying it for someone else as well.”

“Went to snatch a copy after I saw this rec but it’s out of print 😔 If you have a copy, allow me to make you an offer you can’t refuse.”