Today, Picacho Peak serves as a familiar landmark along a stretch of Interstate 10 that connects Tucson and Phoenix. An unmistakable cluster of volcanic remnants juts hundreds of feet from the desert floor, greeting a constant flow of drivers who whiz past the site, completely unaware of its historical significance.
Some 150 years ago, this was actually the scene of “the westernmost battle of the Civil War.”
Downtown Prescott oozes charm. A network of 100-year-old brick buildings frame the the Yavapai County Courthouse at the center of town. Growing up there, the grassy park surrounding the Back to the Future-like edifice was a hub of tourists and town folk alike (and still is today). Droves turned out for art shows, pint-sized parades and Christmas carolers. An eclectic, steady stream of cowboys and city slickers filtered into saloons along the infamous Whiskey Row…
Fast forward a couple decades. The rolling green hills that led into town have been swallowed by a sea of corporate logos. Home Depot, Cracker Barrell, In-and-Out and Westcor now welcome drivers into the city.
Ever experienced an “Only in Arizona” moment? We can relate. Many of the state’s oddities are rooted in our daily lives, while others pop up once in a lifetime.
In this post, we’re sharing some of the state’s quirkiest “official” facts and historical tidbits.
Daylight-saving time is an issue that sums up everything you really need to know about Arizona, namely that we are a contrary people and that it’s really, really hot here.
Daylight-saving time is one of those old standby issues that pops up every now and again, usually when the Legislature runs out of dumb ideas. They will argue about it for a while and then, refreshed and re-energized, think of a new dumb idea. It’s sort of like cleansing your palate between courses.
