Old Tucson

2019 is the 80th Anniversary of "Old Tucson".

G and I have wanted to visit this, but past treks to Tucson simply didn't work out. However, this year we made it.  If you have a "Tucson Passport" two can enter for the price of one.

"Old Tucson is an American movie studio and theme park just west of Tucson, Arizona, adjacent to the Tucson Mountains and close to the western portion of Saguaro National Park. Built in 1939 for the movie Arizona (1940), it has been used for the filming of several movies and television westerns since then, such as Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), Rio Bravo (1959), El Dorado (1966), and Little House on the Prairie TV series of the 1970s-1980s. It was opened to the public in 1960, and historical tours are offered about the movies filmed there, along with live cast entertainment featuring stunt shows and shootouts." - Wikipedia.

There are actors, stunts, lectures, music and sights to see, as well as tours and rides.  I'm posting a few photos.

http://oldtucson.com/

Original material:  https://roadtrek210.blogspot.com/

Titan Missile Museum

The titan missile museum is a relic of the cold war.

The museum houses the last Titan II rocket in its silo. It has been decommissioned and is now a museum. To keep the Russians happy, certain physical modifications have been made which can be verified via satellites orbiting overhead.

The Titan II was designed to launch a nuclear warhead in 58 seconds, but it was also the vehicle used to propel astronauts into space as part of the Gemini program.

The museum is authentic and includes a tour of the underground launch facility.]

Like me, this museum is a relic. I've been designing and continue to design sophisticated process control systems. The methods and technologies used in constructing this cold war deterrent are the same one's I was using in the 0960s. We've obviously progressed since then. However, I find these museums to be an interesting walk down memory lane. 

Original material:  https://roadtrek210.blogspot.com/

San Xavier del Bac Mission

A Brief History of Mission San Xavier del Bac (from the Mission website):

"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.

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.

The church retains its original purpose of ministering to the religious needs of its parishioners. 

Location: The Mission is 9 miles south of downtown Tucson, Arizona just off of Interstate 19. Take exit 92 (San Xavier Road) and follow signs to the Mission.

There is no admission charge to visit Mission San Xavier. Some 200,000 visitors come each year from all over the world to view what is widely considered to be the finest example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States."

National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

I'm just about caught up with this trek!

During our stay in Tucson, we mentioned our return itinerary which included Oklahoma City. Our neighbors suggested we stop at the National Cowboy Heritage Museum. So we altered our return trek to include this. We spent a morning there.

That's one of the joys of trekking in a camper van. Meeting other travelers and sharing knowledge. One can also take alternative routes as the weather or desires change. So, on our return we altered our itinerary and off to the museum we went.  It was impressive. Our Canadian acquaintance was spot on with her recommendation.

The museum includes impressive art, a full-scale replica of a 19th century western town (Prosperity Junction) and extensive exhibits of the history of the cowboy in film. In all, more than 28,000 Western and American Indian art works and artifacts. We found the volunteer guides at the museum to be very helpful and talkative. We discovered a lot about the contents of the museum and really enjoyed our conversations. Overall a really informative, educational experience.

I am including only a sampling of photos. The exhibits include authentic western and Indian clothing, tools, and certainly the best barbed-wire exhibit on the planet. I never knew my nearby town of Dekalb was so linked to the cattle industry.