Picacho Peak is Destination for Avid Hikers, Civil War Buffs

May 27, 2011 By 1 Comment
Final Rail at Picacho

About 40 miles north of Tucson, Picacho Peak abruptly rises 1,500 feet above the flat desert landscape typical to many other parts of Southern Arizona. It’s among the most prominent landmarks along the highly traveled stretch of Interstate 10 connecting Tucson and Phoenix.

Thousands of drivers pass by the ominous peak daily; most unaware of the adventure it holds, or its historical significance.

Picacho is the highest peak among a cluster of rugged rock formations shaped by an ancient volcanic flow. It serves as the cornerstone of Picacho Peak State Park, which boasts 3,700 acres of recreational opportunities that aren’t visible from the highway. In addition to numerous hiking trails, the park has campgrounds, ramadas, picnic areas, grills and a LEED-certified visitor center.

According to Arizona State Parks, this region was frequently traveled by Mormon settlers and forty-niners throughout the mid 1800s. It was also the scene of the westernmost battle of the Civil War. In April 1862, a couple dozen Union and Confederate troops clashed near the base of the mountain while scouting. Three men were killed.

Filed Under: Natural Surroundings, Recreation, Southern Arizona Tagged With: , , , ,

Death of Old Arizona Gunslinger Inspires Well-Known Western Axiom

May 24, 2011 By 2 Comments
Old Western Weapons

Bill Downing was one of the most disliked fellows in old Arizona. He was moody, morose, bad-tempered, sullen and surly. That was when he was sober. He got downright mean and ugly when he was drinking ol’ red-eye.

He was so unpopular that even members of his gang couldn’t stand him. It’s a historical fact that one time when Bill and several other members of the Alvord gang were languishing in the Tombstone jail on a train robbery charge, a crony broke in and freed the other outlaws but left Bill locked in his cell.

He was so bad that the only thing good one could say about him was he wasn’t as despicable sometimes as he was usually.

If I seem to have painted ol’ Bill with a jaundiced brush, it’s because he likely would have wanted it that way. If he had any good qualities history has mislaid them like some old lost gold mine.

Filed Under: Culture, Dose of History, Odd Observations, Small Town Scene, Southern Arizona Tagged With: , , , , ,

Are There Opossums in Arizona?

April 11, 2011 By 2 Comments

Q: My wife swears she saw an opossum the other night while walking the dog in our Mesa neighborhood. I think she was seeing things. Settle our bet. Are there opossums in Arizona?

A: Are there opossums in Arizona? Are you kidding?

Why do you think some parts of the state are uninhabited? There are opossums out there the size of St. Bernards, mutated by the drift from nuclear testing back in the ’50s. Their teeth are as long as car keys, and they are notoriously short-tempered. In 1973, a group of Boy Scouts camping near…

OK, I made that stuff up. I thought it might be more interesting than the real answer, which is: Sort of.

There are opossums in Arizona, although it is highly unlikely that the missus saw one in Mesa. Unlikely, but not impossible.

Arizona’s opossum population mostly confines itself to the area from Tucson south to the border.

Filed Under: Natural Surroundings, Odd Observations, Southern Arizona Tagged With:

Trivia on Arizona Cities & Towns: Can You Pass?

February 9, 2011 By 2 Comments

Test your knowledge of cactus and wildlife of Arizona 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. Did any answers surprise you?

1. What Arizona city’s name means big house?

2. In what city is Fort Whipple Veterans Hospital located?

3. Where is the monument to camel driver Hi Jolly (Hadji Ali) located?

4. Where is Phantom Ranch located?

Filed Under: Dose of History, Northern Arizona, Small Town Scene, Southern Arizona, Valley of the Sun Tagged With: , ,

Why are Phoenix and Tucson so Different?

January 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Arizona Map with Tucson and Phoenix

Q: My grandpa and grandma live in Tucson, and when we visit them, I always wonder why are Phoenix and Tucson so different?

A: This is an excellent question. The answer would fill a volume or two, but the short explanation is: History, dear child, it’s all about history.

In the great scheme of things, Phoenix is a fairly young city.

Granted, the Hohokam and other Native Americans lived around here for centuries, but a permanent European presence was not established until the Army opened Fort McDowell in 1865. The hay camp that supplied the fort eventually became Phoenix.

By contrast, Tucson’s European roots go back to 1694, when the tireless missionary Father Kino founded a small mission roughly near the Miracle Mile overpass at Interstate 10. Not far away was another village Kino called San Cosme de Tucson. It was more or less the northern most point of the Spanish settlement in what is now Arizona.

Filed Under: Culture, Dose of History, Southern Arizona, Valley of the Sun Tagged With: , , ,
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »