A Brief But Fascinating History Of The Hohokam: The Valley’s First Residents
Most scientists believe the Hohokam arrived in Arizona from Mexico around 300 B.C. Apparently, they arrived with a strong culture intact and had an immediate influence on the area and the people al…
Horseshoe Bend, Arizona
Located on the Colorado River, Horseshoe Bend is a geological marvel. Here is where the Colorado River, cutting through rock over the course of millions of years, created a wide sweep around this sandstone escarpment. It created a 270° horseshoe-shaped bend in the canyon. This beautiful spot is only 7 miles north of the Grand Canyon.
(via sociolab)
What is a hidden secret of Arizona?
Why are Phoenix and Tucson so Different?
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.
The site grew to be a Spanish presidio, a fortress against Apache raids and, to make a very long story very short, eventually became good old Tucson, the Old Pueblo.
The name Tucson, by the way, comes from the Pima word schookson, according to historian Marshall Trimble. It means “black at the foot of ” and probably refers to the dark base of Sentinel Mountain, also known as “A” Mountain.
It is our considered opinion, young reader, that time has given Tucson a stronger sense of Hispanic culture, architecture and history and a somehow different outlook on matters than you might find in brash, young Phoenix, still a relative newcomer to Arizona.
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I can’t keep up with this blog right now because of the demands of my graduate program. I’m looking to recruit a couple people to help with posting pictures, articles, facts, and videos. If you’re interested please message me!
