Riordan Mansion
July 22, 2008 by Carl Chapman
Filed under Parks
Timothy and Michael Riordan built the Riordan Mansion in Flagstaff in 1904. The Riordan’s were owners of Flagstaff’s logging company and their wives were sisters. The brothers built two large mansions side by side on a 50-acre low grassy hill. The mansion was first called Kinlichi, which is Navajo for red hill. Charles Whittlesey [...]
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
July 21, 2008 by Carl Chapman
Filed under Parks
The Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is where water and rock have combined to make the world’s largest natural travertine bridge. The travertine bridge has an arch that spans 150 feet and reaches 180 feet above Pine Creek. The tunnel under the bridge is 400 feet long carved through limestone. On top of the bridge [...]
Dead Horse Ranch State Park
July 21, 2008 by Carl Chapman
Filed under Parks
The name Dead Horse Ranch State Park came about during a visit to several ranches in the Verde Valley. Cavin Irey’s was out with his children looking for a ranch to purchase for his family. At the end of the day, he asked his children which ranch they liked the best. They [...]
Tuzigoot National Monument
July 21, 2008 by Carl Chapman
Filed under Parks
Tuzigoot National Monument was created to preserve the Indian culture of the area. The name Tuzigoot is an Apache word for “crooked water”. The site covers 42 acres and has so many things to offer its visitors.
The Sinaguan Indians built Tuzigoot in 1000 A.D. The Sinagua Indians worked the land and traded [...]
Montezuma Castle National Monument
July 21, 2008 by Carl Chapman
Filed under Parks
Montezuma Castle National Monument is a cliff dwelling built by the Sinagua Indians in 1150. Later, in the 1300’s it was abandoned for reasons still unknown today. The settlers who first discovered the dwelling’s remains believed that the Aztec emperor Montezuma, who was fleeing from the Spanish conquistadors, built it. Thus, the [...]
Montezuma Well
July 21, 2008 by Carl Chapman
Filed under Parks
Montezuma Well is a natural limestone sinkhole and lake. It was formed by a collapse of a large underground cavern. This cavern is filled continuously by a nearby spring. The sinkhole is 470 feet across and is only partly filled by a 55-foot deep lake.
During 1100 the Hohokam Indians used the spring for building irrigation [...]
Slide Rock State Park
July 21, 2008 by Carl Chapman
Filed under Parks
Slide Rock State Park began as the Pendley family’s homestead, which included an apple orchard. It is nestled in the lush Oak Creek Canyon and is what many consider Mother Nature’s Playground. Today, the 43-acre Slide Rock State Park contains Oak Creek Canyon’s most amazing feature. A 30-foot natural rock waterslide worn in the rocks [...]
Red Rock State Park
July 21, 2008 by Carl Chapman
Filed under Parks
Red Rock State Park includes 286 acres of wildlife and plants. The park has a diverse riparian habitat, which is enhanced by Oak Creek flowing through it. Visitors will see ravens, jays and Gila woodpeckers. There are also migratory birds that come to the park in April and November. There are a variety of trees [...]
Raven Site Ruin
July 21, 2008 by Carl Chapman
Filed under Parks
The Raven Site Ruin consists of two pueblos with 800 rooms and two kivas. The site is 5-acres, which overlooks the Little Colorado River. You can participate in guided hiking tours of the petroglyphs and other sites. The tour also includes visits to the laboratory, museum, library and excavation areas.
The Site [...]
Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park
July 21, 2008 by Carl Chapman
Filed under Parks
The courthouse has a rich history beginning in 1881, when the population reached 10,000 and Cochise County was established. Then in 1882, the Victorian styled Cochise County Courthouse was built in Tombstone. The courthouse represented law and order, during a time when lawlessness was rampant. The courthouse building included the offices of sheriff, recorder, treasurer, [...]
