The Legend of Big Nose Kate
Bet you've never heard or read much about Mary Katherine Harony, right? It's probably because she was more commonly known as Big Nose Kate, the one time consort of Doc Holliday. A native of Hungary, she moved with her family to Mexico but when her parents died she was placed in a foster home, ran away, stowed away on a river boat, got … Read more...
Mattie Earp Gravesite, Vandals Spark Preservation of Historic Pinal Cemetery
The historic Pinal Cemetery, ca. 1880 to approximately 1920, served the residents of Pinal and the mill workers from Silver King Mine. Following the mine closure in 1888, Pinal was depopulated but the cemetery was still used by the residents of the new copper camp, Superior. With the establishment of Superior’s own cemetery in 1916, use of the … Read more...
Southern Arizona’s Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Declared “Hidden Gem”
Arizona’s natural, diverse landscape has garnered international acclaims and attention, yet many scenic parks continue to fly under the mainstream radar. One such spot – the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument near Ajo and Why – is getting a much-deserved shout out by Country. The magazine’s 2013 June/July issue is showcasing the Top 10 … Read more...
Old Highway Signs Make up Centennial Tribute in Downtown Phoenix
PHOENIX - Those who drive by an old warehouse in downtown Phoenix might think it's a hasty repair job thrown onto the side of the structure because the entire surface is covered with highway signs. Signs like "Do Not Pass," "Reduced Speed Ahead," and "Keep Right Except to Pass." There are more than 500 of them. Yet they aren't a bad repair job, … Read more...
The World’s Largest and Smallest… Funky Claims to Fame in Arizona
Arizona has some truly one-of-a-kind wonders and quirky artistic endeavors, several of which have earned the titles of world’s largest or smallest. Below, we’re sharing some of our favorites. Do you know of any other “worldly” oddities? Leave us comment with your thoughts. World’s Largest Kokopelli in Camp Verde CAMP VERDE — The … Read more...
Latest News
Southern Arizona’s Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Declared “Hidden Gem”
Arizona’s natural, diverse landscape has garnered international acclaims and attention, yet many scenic parks continue to fly under the mainstream radar. One such spot – the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument near Ajo and Why – is getting a much-deserved shout out by Country.
Arizona Hotspots & Leisure Trivia 2: Can You Pass?
Test your knowledge of Arizona hotspots and leisure activities with this short quiz, originally published in Marshall Trimble’s Official Arizona Trivia. Don’t scroll down too quickly. The answers are posted shortly below the questions. When you’re finished, leave a comment with your score.
Is Fishing Allowed in the Valley Canals?
SRP is not exactly thrilled with the idea of you fishing in the canals because of safety issues. And it is illegal to be in or on the water of the canals. However, it is not illegal to fish in the canals. One thing: The canals are well-stocked, at considerable expense, with white amurs…
Mattie Earp Gravesite, Vandals Spark Preservation of Historic Pinal Cemetery
The historic Pinal Cemetery, ca. 1880 to approximately 1920, served the residents of Pinal and the mill workers from Silver King Mine. Following the mine closure in 1888, Pinal was depopulated but the cemetery was still used by the residents of the new copper camp, Superior.
Featured: Small Town Scene
Iron Whales and Rusty Nails in Quartzsite
QUARTZSITE — Gene Hassler doesn’t let things go to waste, especially if they’re things he can use to create a whale or a velocipede. Hassler is a welder and artist who spends some of his time in Quartzsite because he owns Hassler’s RV Park here. The property is adorned with about 50 of his creations, all made of scrap materials.
His rendition of an ostrich has car headlights for eyes and pipe wrenches for legs. Nearby, a huge hand made of bolts reaches out of the ground to grab a vine crafted from reinforcing rods. Elsewhere are palm trees, velocipedes, cowboys with six-shooters, elephant feet and cactus, all rusted because they’re all made of previously used metal.
Meet Georgette, the Scrap Pile Camel of Quartzsite
QUARTZSITE — Camels play a big role in this community’s history, so it’s no wonder that camel replicas pop up all over town. The most recent addition isn’t actually new; it has simply returned from the dead.
Or, in this case, the scrap heap.
Saddle up at the Superstition Saloon in Tortilla Flat
TORTILLA FLAT – For more than a hundred years, thirsty travelers have flocked to Tortilla Flat. Once a popular stagecoach stop along the Apache Trail, the saloon anchoring this tiny and resilient community still serves up libations to tourists seeking a slice of Old Arizona.
Life in Old Boom Towns with Jackass Prospectors
The gold and silver rushes, more than anything else, provided the inspiration for people to give up relative comforts in the East and come west. Opportunity to get rich quick is a uniquely American article of faith and was virtually born in the West. With a single lucky break, one could instantly make more money than he could lend, spend in a lifetime. So, it was “off to Californey, Coloradie, or Arizonie with my wash pan on my knee,” looking for, as Bret Harte said, “a fresh deal all around.” Most were either trying to get something or get away from something. It was called the “greatest mass migration of greenhorns since the children of Israel set out in search of Canaan.”
How did Show Low Get its Name?
Early day settlers Corydon E. Cooley and Marion Clark had been neighbors for a short time, living among the lush, green ponderosa forestland along Arizona’s Mogollon Rim. The two became concerned about one encroaching on the other’s privacy. Perhaps on a clear day one could see a wisp of smoke rising from other’s country. Whatever the reason Cooley and Clark agreed it was getting too crowded and one of the two parties had to move.
Featured: Dose of History
The Cowboy Mystique (Pt. 3): A Cowboy Isn’t a Cowboy Without His Horse
t was not the cow that made the cowboy; it was the horse. In the early days, it was a range mongrel known as the mustang, those sturdy, unpampered descendants of the Spanish breed that were the greatest contributors to a cowboy’s self-image. There was an aura of aristocracy, shared by the fraternity of horsemen, that bridged all cultures.
How the Arizona/Mexico Border Came to Be
In 1848, at the end of the Mexican War, Mexico gave up a huge hunk of territory including parts of what are now New Mexico, Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah and Nevada, plus its claim to Texas.The southern border of Arizona at the time was the Gila River.
Quartzsite’s Legend of A Camel Driver
The thing most people notice right away when they enter the Quartzsite Cemetery is a stone pyramid topped by a copper camel, and there’s quite a story behind its presence. The cairn marks the grave site of a man they called Hi Jolly, who came to this country in the 1860s to act as a camel driver for the U.S. Army during an ill-fated attempt to use the animals as beasts of burden for military purposes in the deserts of the Southwest.
Wickenburg’s Botanical Incarcerator
Right in the middle of downtown Wickenburg, there’s an old mesquite tree that folks around town say has been there longer than anyone can remember. Local historians who check into such things say it’s more than 200 years old, and claim they have evidence to prove it. They also say it once served as the community’s only jail.
Billy Stiles: Lawman-Outlaw-Lawman
In the long run, Billy Stiles fared much better as a criminal than as a lawman. He escaped death many times while running from the law, but died while trying to enforce it. Stiles was born in 1871 and grew up near Casa Grande. He served twice as an Arizona deputy sheriff, but spent much of his early days as a train robber, bank robber and killer.
