Colorado Springs was founded in July 1871, by General William Palmer. He intended the town to be the setting of a high-quality resort community, which turned out to be very successful. In its early days, the town earned the nickname “Little London” because of the many English tourists who visited. Nearby Pikes Peak, the Garden [...]
Arizona is a land of contradictions. For many people, the state is synonymous with hot, low-elevation deserts, covered with cacti and creosote bushes. In point of fact, more than half of the state lies at an elevation of at least 4,000 feet above sea level, and it possesses the largest stand of evergreen Ponderosa Pine [...]
Among the largest salt lakes in the world, with an average of 12% salinity, second only to the Dead Sea, Great Salt Lake in Utah is a unique stopping place in the Southwest. A remnant of the massive ancient Lake Bonneville, a pluvial lake which covered much of western Utah in prehistoric times, the lake [...]
Fort Union, guardian of the Santa Fe Trail during its heyday, was established in 1851. In actual fact, three forts were built, one after the other, on the plains of northeastern New Mexico. The first was of green logs that warped in the sun and heat and lasted only 10 years. The second, built of [...]
Imagine sandstone rock formations that soar 300 feet into the air and hang precariously over the valley floor, all set against the backdrop of snow-capped Pikes Peak. The rock formations resemble the fins of gigantic sea creatures breaking the surface of the sandy soil below. The soaring vistas and inspirational scenery make Garden of the [...]
In March and April 1909, the Phoenix Gazette published two stories about the discovery of a great underground citadel hidden in a cave in the Grand Canyon. The first article in March only mentions explorer G.E. Kinkaid and his explorations down the Colorado River. He also notes that he made some interesting archeological discoveries, but [...]
Of all the unusual stories that have come out of the Southwest, the horrible experience of one young girl, Olive Oatman, is one of the most exceptional. In 1853, the Oatmans — Olive, her six siblings and mother and father — left their farm in Illinois to join a wagon train destined for the Colorado [...]
Who would guess that in the Spring, wildflowers bloom in profusion, even in the deserts areas of Arizona? Yet Arizona is famous for its yearly displays of color. However, there are two distinct wildflowers seasons, owing to the ranges in altitude. Therefore, we’ve broken this article into two sections — the top 5 place to [...]
In 1869, 10 men, including expedition leader Major John Wesley Powell, and four boats set out on a 1,000 mile journey through uncharted territory. Three months later, five of the original team members would emerge from the Grand Canyon, much changed by their epic struggles. Five members of the team would never return, lost to [...]
