January 25 – January 31, 2023
TOMBSTONE and BISBEE
Went of a day out to these two towns.
Tombstone
Founded in 1879, the historic centre is like stepping back into the Wild West. Tombstone, otherwise known as the “Town too Tough to Die” is the home of the infamous Gunfight at the OK Corral and there are daily re-enactment of the 1881 cowboy gunfight. Outlaws are among the local townsfolk buried at the 1878 Boothill Cemetery.
Allen Street is your typical western style street with boardwalks on each side of the dusty street where you can get a ride on a stage coach and see cow boys in full attire !
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Bisbee
In 1877, the first mining claim was staked in what would later become the City of Bisbee. when Jack Dunn found signs of mineralization indicating the presence of lead, copper and possibly silver. The filing of this claim, and a multitude of others sent prospectors and speculators scurrying to the Mule Mountains in hopes of striking it rich and Bisbee soon became known as the “Queen of the Copper Camps.”
Bisbee proved to be one of the richest mineral sites in the world. During almost a century of mining, 8 billion pounds of copper, 102 million ounces of silver and 2.8 million ounces of gold along with millions of pounds of zinc, lead and manganese were produced. By 1974 ore reserves had been depleted and all mining operations ceased in 1975.
An influx of creative free spirits soon settled in historic Bisbee to pursue their artistic endeavors and replaced the mining community. Today, the town offers visitors a rich mix of art, music, history, architecture and outdoor activities.
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Gem Show
Every winter Tucson holds a Gem, Mineral and Fossil show in late January. More than 65,000 people from around the globe descend upon Tucson, to buy, sell, trade, and bear witness to rare and enchanting gems, minerals, and fossils at over 48 gem show locations across the city. ( some are for wholesale only).We went to 3 different locations and admired all kind of stones in the rough, polished or already set in rings, bracelets and other items of jewelry. Some large pieces are also used in furniture or decorative objects. You could spend days going round all the exhibits!
San Xavier Del Bac Mission – Tucson
“A National Historic Landmark, San Xavier Mission was founded as a Catholic mission by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692. Construction of the current church began in 1783 and was completed in 1797.
Kino, an explorer and missionary, took part in numerous expeditions through the American Southwest and is widely considered an apostle to the native population of Arizona, and defender of their rights. ( click on this link to learn more: https://www.desertusa.com/desert-people/fr-kino.html
The oldest intact European structure in Arizona, the church’s interior is filled with marvelous original statuary and mural paintings. It is a place where visitors can truly step back in time and enter an authentic 18th Century space.”( Mission’s website)
Irene invited Moira and myself to join her and attend mass at the Mission in South West Tucson. The Mission in on San Xavier Indian Reservation and is the easternmost boundary of the Tohono O’odham Nation.(native americans).
There we also met with Irene’s friend John, who is a rock artist. He recreates on rocks the petroglyphs seen on ancient sites (by using the same techniques i.e by pecking at the stone with a tool to create the desired motif). He also goes around school demonstrating his art and educating children on the significance and importance of the petroglyphs so as to prevent degradation and grafitti which unfortunately do happen even in National Parks.
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