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Things to do in Arizona
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Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon National Park in
Arizona is considered to be one of the natural wonders of the
world, and is also one of the oldest national parks in the
nation. Covering some 1900 miles of the most incredible,
unbelievable sights in this country, the Colorado River gorge is
always spectacular and majestic with views and vistas that can
only be seen to be understood. Most of those coming here go to
the south rim to see all that they can, although the north rim
is said to have just as much beauty and natural wonder; as does
the entire canyon. The only problem is the accessible roads to
take you there, Arizona Rt. 64 in the south and Arizona Rt. 67
in the north, with a 5 hour drive between them. Most of the
amenities, the welcome center and other venues are located in
the Grand Canyon Village, which is in the south rim entrance
area. Besides these two access points, the canyon is a rough and
rugged land with steep canyon walls and deep gorges. It was
deemed a national monument in 1908 and a national park in 1919.
Considered an early environmental success, the river had been
planned for a dam on the Colorado in this area, but because of
the conservation preservation, the Glen Canyon Dam was
constructed upstream of the canyon. The immense size, deep
depths and beautiful layered rocks give visitors and scientists
more information and research capabilities than they can handle.
Just trying to imagine the Colorado River slowing eroding the
land through this area to create such a magnificent monument is
beyond our speculation. Millennia passed slowly by, while the
river inched its way south carving a superb sight and natural
wonder, is perhaps part of the aura this fantastic canyon
exudes. The Colorado River is 277 miles long, at some points up
to 18 miles wide and a mile deep as it winds its way through the
Grandest Canyon in the world. The weather should be considered
when visiting the canyon and its marvelous areas, since the
summer days can reach as high as 105 degrees at the river, with
thunderstorms happening often during those months of July,
August and early September. The north rim is somewhat cooler
than the south since it is of higher elevation, however, it is
closed after the first snows of the year and doesn't reopen
until mid-May. The fall or spring can be nice, but can change
suddenly to rainy and cold. While many scientists believe the
earth to be some 4.5 billion years old, the canyon's oldest
rocks, near the inner gorge are thought to be around 1.84
billion years, with the Kaibab limestone rock on the top of the
canyon is only 270 million years old. The first time the
government started saving the canyon was in 1893 when it was
designated a Forest Reserve, and it wasn't named a national park
until three years after the park service was created. This
prestigious canyon hosts no less than 5 million visitors a year
and that means it is one of the most visited sights on the
earth. The oldest archaeological discoveries found there are
over 12,000 years old and are dated within the Paleo-Indian era,
meaning the canyon has been a natural wonder for humans that
long. They have uncovered over 4800 resources so far in the park
which they believe represents only about 3% of the park's area.
The artifacts found so far are relics of the Paleo-Indian,
archaic, basketmaker, ancestral Puebloan, cohonia, cerbat, Pai,
Zuni, Hopi, Navajo and Euro-American.
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Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
This desert museum in
Tucson, Arizona has a half million people coming here each year
to enjoy the combination attraction of zoo, botanical garden and
museum; which was opened in 1952 to showcase the animals and
plants that thrive in the Sonoran Desert. The opening was
actually a pioneering exploration into the design of
naturalistic habitats for animals and the Center for Sonoran
Desert studies was started in 2005 to research the scientific
and educational abilities of the museum and has become the
center for education, conservation and research of the Sonoran
Desert. This world renown complex is striving to inspire its
visitors and other people to live harmoniously within the world
of nature by promoting understanding, appreciation and love of
this magnificent desert. One of the exciting shows that the
museum puts on is the live animal presentation of venomous
reptiles of the southwest, that include, gila monster, Mexican
beaded lizard, black tailed rattlesnake, diamond backed
rattlesnake and Mohave rattlesnake. The show is given each day
by members of the Herpetology department and go for an hour,
unless the questions keep them longer. The show tells about the
venoms, envenomations, history, bite stats, relocating the
rattlesnakes and how these folks work with these very poisonous
reptiles. Some 100 acres of the Sonoran Desert have become their
work area, since it is all natural and pristine. The exhibits
and collections are available here to enhance the natural beauty
of the desert landscape, with an animal collection of 106
mammals, 840 arthropods, 241 birds, 10,700 fish, 122 amphibians
and 361 reptiles. Over 40,000 spectacular plants, without the
inclusion of their grasslands display, are showcased in 1300
different species. It is quite easy for the visitor to come here
and see some 1400 kinds of plants while walking around the
grounds. Expanding our horizons in this magnificent setting, we
also have the opportunity to study the desert's impressive
fossil, mineral and gem collection that totals over 14,000
catalogued specimens. Included is the first and most important
dinosaur skeleton found in the southern parts of Arizona. Their
reference materials include 83 periodical subscriptions, 6000
books and a plethora of audio-visual items.
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Old Tucson Studios
Somewhere west of Tucson,
Arizona, next to the majestic Tucson Mountains and nearby the
Saguaro National Park, the Old Tucson Studios sits proudly
reflective of its great heritage that started in 1939 when it
was built for the epic movie Arizona. The town was opened to the
public in 1960 and is a copy of the 1860 era Tucson. Originally
constructed for Columbia Pictures in 1938, the land belongs to
Pima County over 50 individual buildings were put up in only 40
days. Starring William Holden and Jean Arthur, the complex
became a ghost town after the filming, until 1945, when Bing
Crosby and Ingrid Bergman starred in the Bells of St. Mary's.
There were other great films made here, like the Last Round-Up
in 1947 that starred Gene Autry, Winchester 73 starring James
Stewart and the Last Outpost with Ronald Reagan. Gunfight at the
OK Corral was made in 1959 and the Lone Ranger and the Lost City
of Gold in 1967, as well as Cimarron in 1959. During that same
year, entrepreneur Robert Shelton leased the land from Pima
County and started the renovation of many buildings and it was
reopened in 1960 for studio filming and as a theme park. It
continued to grow and be renovated, with John Wayne starring in
4 films made here; Rio Bravo in 1959, McLintock! in 1963, El
Dorado in 1967 and Rio Lobo in 1970. A large 13,000 square foot
soundstage was constructed in 1968 to increase the versatility
of movie making and the first movie that used it was Young Billy
Young in 1968, that starred Robert Mitchum and Angie Dickinson.
Tours, shows and rides were added to the venue and the biggest
attraction seemed to be the gunfights that were done in the
streets for the excitement of the visiting crowds. TV series
started being done here with the High Chaparral from 1967 to
1971, Little House on the Prairie and Father Murphy. Three
Amigos was made in 1980, and the Young Riders in 1989 to 1992.
Other modern films that were done here include Tombstone,
starring Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Bill Paxton and Sam Elliot,
and the Quick and the Dead with Sharon Stone, Russell Crowe,
Gene Hackman and Leonardo DiCaprio. It is quite unfortunate that
on April 25, 1995, a fire broke out and destroyed many of the
buildings, memorabilia and costumes. No one ever found out how
it started, although many believe that it was arson, and the
mysterious circumstances grew as the fire blazed out of control
with high winds, the 25,000 gallon water reserve couldn't be
accessed and water had to be transported from 40 miles away.
Liquid propane and gunpowder was being stored there and the fire
fighters had to put their attention on making sure that no huge
explosions caused severe damage; which in turn created the
streets and areas to become muck like with all the water being
used. Over 300 guests and employees were moved out of the area
and after some 4 hours it was finally put under control. It took
almost two years to rebuild and the town was reopened in 1997,
without the previous sets, soundstage and in 2003, the hours
were shortened for visitations. It is quite sad that the town
never regained its former glorious status, but the show must go
on and does. All told, some 65 movies were made here, with
numerous series and some arcade games. The last film to be
created here was in 2007, with the filming of the Legend of
Pearl Hart.
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