Tumacacori

The village of Tumacacori began in 1691 with Father Kino, a Spanish missionary. Father Kino was sent to the area to teach the Indians about religion and farming. After Father Kino, many other missionaries came to Tumacacori to continue his work.

It wasn’t until the 1800’s when the present chapel was build. Franciscan Father Narciso Gutierrez is noted for the chapel’s construction. The work on Tumacacori went slowly and it wasn’t completed until 1822. It was at this same time that the Mexican government stopped its funding of missionaries. The government also began to round up the missionaries and send them back to their home countries.

Father Ramon Liberos of Spain was the last missionary at Tumacacori. He was sent away in 1828. The Indians in the area cared for Tumacacori after his absence. Unfortunately, Apache Indian raids in the area forced the Indians to leave. In 1848, the last Indian inhabitants collected the chapel’s furnishings and headed north to the mission called San Xavier del Bac.

Then in 1908, after years of neglect Tumacacori was recognized as a National Historical Park. This early Spanish colonial mission is surrounded by 47 acres of park. Today a museum at the site gives visitors a look back at the history of the Indians and Spanish inhabitants. The museum has several wooden statues that were left behind. The visitor center is a historic building completed in 1937. A 14-minute video gives visitors an understanding of what life was like at Tumacacori in the early 1800’s. There is also a bookstore filled with information on the general area and its history.

The preservation of the adobe chapel and the nearby structures are an ongoing concern. The park is always trying to meet the balance of the need to protect and the public’s need to learn about its history. Guided tours are given every day during the winter months. Living history tours showing the life during the Franciscans period are given with advance notice only. Visitors can also go a self-guided tour of Tumacacori. The tour describes the chapel, graveyard, storeroom and other structures nearby. 

The Tumacacori National State Park is alive with activity during the winter months. Visitors will see local and Mexican artisans demonstrating traditional crafts such as tortilla making, paper flower making and pottery.
You may picnic in the designated areas near Tumacacori, but camping is prohibited. 

The Tumacacori National Historical Park is open every day from 8:00 to 5:00 pm, except Christmas and Thanksgiving. Admission is $1.00 per car. If you would like more information on this National Historic Park, you may call 520-398-2341.

You can get to Tumacacori from Nogales by taking Interstate 19 north out of town. It is approximately 19 miles north of Nogales. You will see the exit for Tumacacori. You can get to Tumacacori from Tucson by taking Interstate 19 south out of town. It is approximately 50 miles south of Tucson. You will see the signs for the exit.

Bill Williams Mountain Men

The Bill Williams Mountain Men were organized by a group of local Williams’s residents in 1953. The mountain men group began with only 14 members and has grown since. At first, the group the just wanted
to get away from it all by embarking on a simple horseback outing. But as time passed, so did their goal. Today, they represent the spirit of Old Bill Williams and the trappers from long ago. The Mountain Men relive the history of the early 1800’s by dressing and acting as scouts or guides from the wilderness of long ago. The group wears buckskins, just as the old scouts. They also wear fur hats, belts and knives. By dressing the part, the group hopes to perpetuate the lore and memory of the mountain
men.

Throughout the years since the group first organized, they have reached the ranks of Official Ambassadors for the State of Arizona . The group has traveled to Washington, D.C. several times for the presidential inaugural parade. Beginning in 1961, the Mountain Men rode in John F. Kennedy’s parade. They returned for Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Regan and Bill Clinton. Not only do the Mountain Men participate in presidential parades, they also do a yearly 200-mile journey to Phoenix on horseback. Once in town the group visits schools and hospitals talking about the rich history of the mountain man. The journey concludes with an appearance at a Phoenix rodeo.

The Bill Williams Mountain Men have also been in the Fiesta Bowl Parade and the Rodeo of Rodeos Parade. If you are in Williams over the Memorial Day weekend, you won’t want to miss the Rendezvous Days Weekend. This weekend began out of a tradition from the past. At one time, mountain men would gather after trapping season and rendezvous with the fur companies to negotiate their price on furs. During the weekend, visitors will see the Bill Williams Mountain Men whooping it up in a parade in downtown Williams.

Williams History

In 1878, Charles T. Rodgers homesteaded the area that is now called Williams. Rodgers was a cattleman, who had the III brand. Then in 1881, he was appointed postmaster. The town continued to grow with the arrival of lumber industry and the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad.

The town and the mountain rising above are both named after Old Bill Williams. Bill Williams was a famous trapper and guide. He was known as one of the most skillful guides in the West. Stories go that Bill could enter an area that was to be impassable, due to Indians and come out with a pack of fur. Bill Williams died in 1849 by a war party of Utes. Dr. Ben Kern also perished in the battle. Two years later, Richard Kern, a brother of Dr. Kern, was on an expedition in the area around Williams.

He decided to name the mountain range after Bill. There are several places in Arizonanamed after this famous mountain man. The river near Alamo Lake after it joins the Santa Maria River, on its way to the
Colorado is called the Bill Williams River. The town beneath the Bill Williams Mountain Range was also named in his honor, Williams. Today visitors will see an 8 and a half foot tall and 1,000 pound bronze sculpture of Old Bill. The sculpture was unveiled in 1980 and was created by Bill Pettit, a local Williams artist. The massive sculpture sits in Monument Park at the west end of town.

In 1901, the Santa Fe Railroad created a line from Williams to the Grand Canyon. This piece of track began hauling tourists up to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. It also gave Williams the claim to be the “Gateway to the Grand Canyon.” You can still ride the same tracks today up to the Rim.

Route 66 opened in the 1920’s and gave Williams another boost. Williams became a tourist town. After the closure of Route 66 Williams has slowed down, but its small town charm continues to grow.

Patagonia

The Indians once referred to the region, in which Patagonia lies as the Enchanted Land. This area has an abundance of water and game. In 1858, the Patagonia Silver Mine opened. The name Patagonia comes from a Spanish word, patagon meaning “the place where the big footed animals hold forth”. The mine later changed hands and became the Mowry Mine, when Sylvester Mowry purchased the mine. The mine is estimated to have made more than 1million in ore. But the mine did not last long.

Then in 1898, Rolin R. Richardson came to the area and founded the town of Rolin. Richardson was from Pennsylvania and came to Arizona to start a ranch and mine. He chose this location because it was close to the New Mexico and Arizona Railroad. In 1899, a post office was created. It was at this time, that the residents voted and changed the name back to Patagonia. The town started to flourish. Patagonia was the shipping center for cattle and ore, due the railroad line going through the center of town. Then in 1948, the town was incorporated. In 1959, the last ore shipment was made and in 1962 the railroad line shut down. The rails were removed and the old depot became the town hall. Today Patagonia is involved in wholesale, retail and services, which keep the town alive. 

In town, you will find artistians, ranchers, naturalists and retirees all living and working together to build a community. Patagonia is a town with a commitment to historical preservation and cultural enrichment. You will find the business district located along State Highway 82, which runs through town. This is the heart of Patagonia.

Holbrook

In 1879, Juan Padilla was the first to arrive near Holbrook. He chose this spot because it was a fertile area, along the Little Colorado River. It was also a place where many travelers made their crossing from the north to the south. He brought an ox team and built a small community. The settlement consisted of a saloon, store and restaurant. Padilla named the community Horsehead Crossing. Soon the town became a stagecoach crossing.

It was during this time, that the government developed an idea for creating a railroad system to the west. Since the government did not have the money to build the railroad, it decided that huge land grants would be given to the railroads. The land grants in Arizona consisted of 20-mile sections on each side of the railroad track. Once the tracks were laid, the railroad sold these sections to ranchers and farmers to recoup the money they spent on building the railroad.

In 1882 the new line was built and a rail station was created, along with new town. The town was named Holbrook, in honor of H.R. Holbrook. Holbrook was the first engineer for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, which later became the Santa Fe railroad. Holbrook became a shipping point for cattle, wool and supplies. Horsehead Crossing eventually disappeared.

In 1884, Edward Kinsley headed west to check out the new railroad line. Kinsley was a stockholder for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. When Kinsley arrived in Holbrook he saw lush green grass, prefect for cattle. He rushed back east and gathered investors. This began the Aztec Land and Cattle Company. The company bought a million acres of land from the railroad and began shipping cattle to area. There were 40,000 cattle and nearly 2,000 horses on their rangeland. It was believed to be the second largest cattle ranch in the United States.

The company was also known as the Hashknife. The name came from the shape of the company’s brand, which looked like a curved knife used on a chunk wagon. The Hashknife cowboys were not all good guys. As a matter of fact, they had been known to ride into Holbrook with their guns blazing and yelling, “Hide out, kids, the cowboys are in town.” Then they would proceed to shoot out lights and do other unruly things.

Throughout Holbrook’s history there have been many colorful characters, such as Lawman Commodore Perry Owens. Owens was a no nonsense man. He had long hair and carried two pistols one on each hip with the butt forward. He was noted for killing three men single handedly, after trying to serve a warrant. The story began on September 4, 1887, when the sheriff went alone to the Blevin’s house to demand Andy Cooper to surrender. Cooper was a cattle rustler, who had changed his name when he came to Arizona because he was wanted in the state of Texas. 

In the fight that followed, Andy Cooper was mortally wounded and so was his 16-year-old brother, Sam Houston Blevins. John Blevins was wounded and Mose Roberts, a member of the Blevin’s household was also killed. The Blevin’s house still stands today.
Another place that still be seen is the “Bucket of Blood” Saloon. This saloon became famous after the two murders that took place inside. A disagreement over a card game erupted and two men were shot dead. The story goes on, in a gruesome retelling that a bucket was filled with blood after the clean up of the bodies. Thus, the name “Bucket of Blood” saloon.

Another wild tale about the town had to do with a hanging. Sheriff Frank Wattron received a letter from President McKinley informing him of his disgust with the Sheriff’s actions. Sheriff Wattron had sent out fancy invitations for the hanging of George Smiley.
Holbrook was a rough and tumble town in its early years and the stories and characters prove this to be true. By 1895, Holbrook was the county seat for Navajo County and it remained the county seat from 1895 to 1914. 
Then in the early 1900’s, many newcomers came to the area to live. These newcomers used the Homestead Law to gather the land needed to build their homes. Land was eventually divided up. This coupled with several years of drought conditions made ranching in this area very difficult. In 1901, the Hashknife cowboys disbanded and left the area. Ranches could no longer use the open range for grazing. Ranching was reduced significantly. Today there is better range management and purebred cattle. These two changes have influenced the ranching industry in a positive way.

By 1926, Route 66 was nearly completed. Although it wasn’t until 1937, before the entire stretch was paved. This road linked Chicago to California and went right through Holbrook. Route 66 was the Mother Road, until 1954 when President Eisenhower established the President’s Advisory Committee on a National Highway Program. After that, the route was slowly dismantled and many towns were bypassed during the construction of newer and better interstate roads. Even though the new Interstate 40 went close to town, Holbrook was affected.

Soon both the railroad and highway became less popular means of transportation. This caused fewer and fewer people to visit Holbrook. Today however, Holbrook is regaining the visitors that once came to town. Holbrook’s proximity to the Hopi and Navajo Indian Reservations and the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest make it a great place to plan your explorations.

Black Canyon City

This settlement has gone through a variety of name changes. Today it is called Black Canyon City because of its location at Black Canyon. However, it has been referred to as Agua Fria District, Goddard, Canon, Rock Springs and Black Canyon. 

The first known travelers to this area passed through in the 1860’s. The travelers were cavalry troops heading up to Fort Whipple, who had stopped to water their horses at the Agua Fria River. At this time, the place was known as Rock Springs. It was this same time that King Woolsey, an early settler discovered the canyons in the area was ideal passageways from the plateau to the mountains. Woolsey found a pass that he used to bring in the first wagon. The trail was named Woolsey Trail. 

Later, in 1872 a stage stop was established. The stage stop was a part of a popular trail called the Black Canyon wagon road and stage line. The Arizona Stage Company ran the line and made the 140-mile journey from Prescott to Phoenix three days a week. The trek would take a little over a day to complete and Black Canyon City marked the halfway point in stage route. 

The stage line either up from Black Canyon City or down to it was the scene of many holdups. The rough landscape and steep slopes were perfect spots to plan an attack. It was also a dangerous one-way grade, where drivers awaited each other at turnouts. Stage drivers carried long tinhorns like those used during fogs in New England. A long blast sounded an approach and two blasts meant an acknowledgement. If the horns were not heard and two coaches met at an impassable place, then the “up” team was unhitched. Next, two men would take the tongue of the coach and roll it down the hill, until they reached a point where the coaches could pass.

In 1894, Charles Goddard became the first postmaster along the southeast bank of the Agua Fria River. It was at this time, the name Goddard was used for the community. Unfortunately, the post office closed in 1906. It wasn’t until years later that the post office reopened, but this time with the name Black Canyon.

Then in 1898, the Agua Fria School was established. The school’s name was eventually shortened to Canon School. The town’s name was then switched to Canon.

It wasn’t until 1920, when electricity was finally brought into town. The Kay Copper Mine located just outside of town needed the electricity. The mine eventually closed in 1929. 

During the 1930’s through the 1950’s, the community was known for both its farming and cattle. There were a variety of crops being harvested such as celery, cotton and maize. Many cattlemen used Black Canyon City as a rested spot when they drove their cattle down from the mountains in Northern Arizona to Phoenix.

Then in the 1960’s, farming began to diminish when the construction of Interstate 17 began. The highway cuts through the east side of Black Canyon on its way to the top of Black Mesa. The Interstate connects the town to Phoenix and to other large cities. The interstate put the town on the map, so to speak. Today it is a growing community with new businesses developing and many tourists finding it to be an ideal haven for the winter.

Bisbee

The town of Bisbee is one of the richest mineral sites in the world. It is interesting to know, that it began very simply with Hugh Jones in 1875, who came through looking for silver. Hugh decided to move on after only finding copper stains. Then in 1877, a government scout named Jack Dunn came across an outcropping of ore. Jack took some samples before leaving the area. 

Later on, Dunn met up with George Warren, a prospector with a shady background. Warren agreed to file claims on Dunn’s behalf. Unfortunately, Warren told others of his agreement and filed claims with his new partners. The Copper Queen Mine was born. Several years later, Warren lost his share of the mine by losing a bet. Around this period, electricity became popular and so was the need for copper. In 1880, Judge DeWitt Bisbee of San Francisco decided to invest in the Copper Queen Mine. Then shortly there after, the town of Bisbee sprang up, getting its name from the investor. 

Following its purchase, a smelter was built and the mine operated 24 hours a day pulling out an endless supply of ore. Later, Dr. James Douglas visited the area and convinced Phelps-Dodge to purchase a mine near the Copper Queen Mine. After years of fighting over the ore at the boundary lines of these two mines, the two mines decided to merge and became the Copper Queen Consolidated Mining Company.In 1898, another mining company popped up on the scene. The Calumet and Arizona Company was soon a rival to Phelps Dodge. During those rival years the town of Bisbee began to take off. Bisbee soon became a rowdy little town. The town is made up of two canyons. One canyon called Main Street and the other is known as Brewery Gulch. 

Brewery Gulch was a popular spot for saloons and wild women. It was said that Brewery Gulch had nearly 50 saloons. It is still a popular site to visit today. Bisbee also attracted immigrants to town. There were individuals from Germany, Italy, Ireland and Russia. All of these people came to work in the mine. High copper prices allowed miners to be paid high salaries. This caused Bisbee to be the wealthiest city in Arizona and one of the largest mining sites in the world. Bisbee held the title of being the largest cosmopolitan town between St. Louis and San Francisco. At one time, the town soared to a population of 20,000. The town’s growth was most evident in 1902, when the four-story Copper Queen Hotel was built. The Copper Queen has high ceilings, chandeliers and long hallways. 

This elegant hotel’s guests include Teddy Roosevelt and Black Jack Pershing. During a visit to Bisbee you can stay in this historic hotel.It wasn’t until 1925 when Phelps Dodge Mining Corporation bought out all the small mines including Calumet and Arizona Company. This purchase gave Phelps Dodge ownership of over 9,000 acres. Then in the 1950’s, the Lavender Pit opened. The pit was named after Harrison Lavender, a manager of the Copper Queen branch of Phelps-Dodge. This pit sunk to more than 900 feet and enclosed more than 300 acres. Phelps-Dodge operated the underground Queen Mine and the Lavender open mine pit for many years. By the end of the 70’s most of the mining had closed down, due to falling copper prices. 

It is amazing to think by the time mining ended, the Bisbee area had produced 6.1 million dollars from 3 million ounces of gold, over 97 million ounces of silver, over 8 billion pounds of copper, nearly 273 pounds of zinc and 304 million pounds of lead. Mining has seen many improvements through the years from mules to earthmoving equipment and Bisbee has followed in the steps of mining history by making changes in order to thrive. Today the town has switched gears and has become a haven for artists and cultural events.       

Colorado City

Colorado City is on the northern border of Arizona adjacent to Hilldale, Utah. Colorado City was originally called Short Creek, for a nearby stream that sank into the sand before it had run very far. The area is covered with evidence of an early Anasazi population. One of the first modern settlers was William Maxwell in about 1908. Other early settlers were ranchers and cattlemen and, a few years later, homesteaders. In about 1930, a group of religious fundamentalists came from Utah seeking refuge and played a major part in pioneering the community to the thriving little city that it is today.

      

Clarkdale

Clarkdale, incorporated in 1957, was laid out in 1914 near the site of the Clarkdale Smelter, which was financed by Senator William A. Clark of Montana. Construction of the smelter began in 1910 and it processed ore from nearby Jerome until 1952. Clarkdale was a company town way ahead of its time with many modern amenities. The old mining and smelter sites and clubhouse are listed on the National Register of Historic Sites.

Chloride

Chloride is a small town located 20 miles north of Kingman in the foothills of the Cerbat Mountains at an altitude of 4200 feet. It began as a silver mining camp in the early 1860’s. At its peak, in the late 1800’s, early 1900’s, the population grew to 2500.

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