Arizona Oddities’ Favorite 11 Posts from 2011
We offer a wide range of content on Arizona Oddities catering to an eclectic group of fans from around the state. From history and recreation to artistic endeavors and those weird things you see along the highway, we’ve got it covered.
Here, we’re showcasing our favorite 11 posts from 2011. We also want to hear what you found most memorable. Please leave us a comment with your favorites.
- The Wounded Goddess Atop the State Capitol Dome, Feb. 4, 2011 – The white statue that has been a permanent fixture atop the State Capitol dome in Phoenix for more than a century goes by several names.
- What Kind of Plant is a Tumbleweed?, Feb. 17, 2011 – Tumbleweeds really are a specific plant, the mature form of the Russian thistle, Salsola iberica.We think of them as being a real symbol of the West: wide-open spaces and the Sons of the Pioneers and all that.
- World’s First Wave Pool Returns to its Roots, May 21, 2011 – Did you know the Valley is home to the world’s first wave pool? “Waikiki Beach” at Big Surf Waterpark in Tempe has welcomed desert beach bums for more than four decades. Today, it remains the third largest wave pool worldwide, containing some 2.5 million gallons of water.
- The Fourth Goes Bang in Taylor, June 16, 2011 – The people who reside in this community don’t have to worry about getting a wake-up call to make sure they don’t miss the Independence Day festivities. The Taylor Fire Department takes care of that.
- One Big Sportsy Birdie in Glendale, July 27, 2011 – If there’s any doubt that Max’s Sports Bar and Restaurant is actually a sports bar, the suspicions are allayed immediately after entering the establishment and meeting the Jocko Bird.
- Antoine Leroux: An Old West Hero You’ve Probably Never Heard Of, July 31, 11 – Heroes of the Old West came about gaining public recognition in a variety of ways… Perhaps the most deserving of them all, yet the least known in Arizona, is Antoine Leroux.
- A Two-House Story in Snowflake, Aug. 5, 2011 – This is a two-house story, rather than the usual two-story house. It begins in 1878, when Andrew Rogers built a simple one-room log cabin for his family after they migrated to northeastern Arizona.
- Time Stands Still in Florence, Aug. 12, 2011 – All four faces of the clock on the old Pinal County Courthouse say 11:44 regardless of what time of day it is. This is a good thing because most people look at the clock during the daylight hours, so no matter what time it is, the clock says it’s almost time for lunch.
- Boynton Canyon Vortex in Sedona, Aug. 30, 2011 – Famed for its stunning red rock cliffs, Sedona is one of those Arizona cities you simply can’t get enough of. People travel from around the world to catch a glimpse of the crimson landscape sitting in our backyard. Yet the red rocks alone aren’t drawing tourists.
- Exploring Northern Arizona’s Lava River Caves, Sept. 17, 2011 – About 14 miles north of Flagstaff in the Coconino Forest, a network of caverns and lava-encased passages lie just below the feet of hikers, hunters and other recreation seekers.
- The Story of Arizona’s First Newspaper, Oct. 3, 2011 – More than 150 years ago – five decades before statehood – Arizona’s first newspaper hit the printing press in Tubac. At the time, Tubac was among the territory’s more active presidios with 400 residents.
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