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Showing posts from September, 2018

Winslow AZ: Standing on a Corner

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Roughly 75 miles southeast of Flagstaff on I-40 (Route 66) sits the town of Winslow. The settlement’s name was designated after Edward F. Winslow who was the president of St. Louis and San Francisco Rail Road. Others will tell you that it derived its name from a prospector, Tom Winslow. Some of the places to see and visit while in Winslow are the Harvey House (La Posada Hotel). It opened its doors in 1930 and was the creation of Mary Colter. It lasted almost 3 decades but closed down in 1957. It became offices for the Santa Fe Railway and then it was left deserted. They wanted to bulldoze it down in 1994, but it was resurrected and is now a plush hotel. Another of Winslow’s attractions is the “Standing on a corner” statue and display. It was in 1972 when the Eagles added the line “Standin’ on a corner in Winslow Arizona…” in their song “Take it Easy” that put Winslow on the map. When you visit Winslow, you can stand on the corner and be a part of the song. They erec

Meteor Crater

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About 50,000 years ago, a deep hole was formed when a meteor struck the Earth about 35 miles east of Flagstaff, Arizona.  This crater measured three-quarters of a mile wide and was about 700 feet deep.   This impact caused hurricane-force winds blowing in all directions with about 175 million tons of rock thrown into the air.  It only took 10 seconds to form the meteor crater causing a huge void surrounding the area. At first, it was thought that a volcanic blast caused the large gap in the Earth’s surface, until in 1903, Daniel Barringer, a Philadelphia mining engineer, went to the site.  He determined that the huge cavity was made by an enormous meteor.  Barringer bore holes at the bottom of the crater to prove that he was accurate.  He found oxidized meteorite fragments which convinced other researchers that his theory was correct. The owners of the Crater proclaim it to be “the first proven, best-preserved meteorite crater on earth.”

Apache Death Cave

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Both photos are by Sharon Day http://www.ghosthuntingtheories.com/ In 1878, a mass murder took place in a cave under where the ghost town of Two Guns sits. A group of Apache ransacked and murdered Navajo women and children. They concealed themselves and their horses by taking cover in a nearby cave. The Navajo encountered them in the cave and covered the entrance with sagebrush and wood. They set it ablaze, trapping the 42 Apache inside the inferno. The men and horses suffocated and eventually burned to death. The scene after the fire was extinguished was gruesome. The site of the murders became known as the “death cave”.

Two Guns AZ

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Not far from Twin Arrows along I-40 (historic Route 66) and 30 miles east of Flagstaff, sits an eerie ghost town called Two Guns. This tiny place was a popular location for travelers to stop by because it had everything they needed for their journeys. The person who had the earliest business there was Ed Randolph. He built his store near where the Apache Death Cave (my next post) is located. In 1922, he sold 320 acres to a couple would construct a store, restaurant and gas pumps. Three years later, a man named Harry Miller rented some of the land from the couple. He saw the potential to exploit the location and the gorgeous Canyon Diablo scenery for his business ideas. Alongside the canyon he constructed a zoo with mountain lions, cougars, Gila monsters, snakes, birds and a lynx. He added a restaurant and Indian gift shop where he sold relics from the Apache Death Cave. For all who were interested and for a small charge, he would offer tours of the cave and present drinks

Twin Arrows, AZ

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Along Route 66 and just outside of Flagstaff, sits an abandoned site known as Twin Arrows. Sometime in the 1880s, a road for wagons was charted between Flagstaff and Winslow. A railway track was constructed for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad along the north side of the National Old Trails which ultimately became US 66 (Route 66). It was in 1926 when the highway was officially recognized as US 66. Many people, who moved out west in the 1930s during the Dust Bowl, used this thoroughfare as a means to get to their destination. A few small communities where built along Route 66 which help to sustain their way of life. Twin Arrows was one of those settlements that thrived. It had a trading post which was originally known as Canyon Padre Trading Post. For some reason the diner and store didn’t do well until the owner changed the name to Twin Arrows Trading Post. They added two 25 foot enormous arrows so those driving by would not miss his place and it worked. Business was boomi

Photography: Historic Flagstaff

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