03/07/2024 to 03/11/2024
Our little boy came to visit for a bit, escaping the cold and making his Mom very happy.
We tried not to run him into the ground, but we did manage to get in a few rather nice activities.
- San Xavier del Bac
- Titan Missle Museum
- Pima Air and Space Museum
- Vulture City Ghost Town - formerly Vulture Mine
- This and That
The day after Brian arrived we headed to Tucson to do lots of tourising.
First stop was the beautiful mission, San Xavier del Bac. It is the oldes intact European structure in Arizona.
The first church, built in early 1700, was burned by Apache. The current structure was started in late 1700s.
The name is a mix of Spanish and Tohono O'odham (the predominant tribe in the area). St. Xavier for the co-founder of the Jesuits. Del Bac is Tohono O'doham meaning place where water appears.
I am sure I am explaining something profound
The front is very lovely
Inside it is quite ornate
It is still an active church with regular services
I love the dome designs
This was top of Brian's list. The museum for the last remaining Titan II missle - rendered unlaunchable and non-lethal - and the complex created to support it and the Air Force personel who served there.
It's a pretty amazing place, and just as amazing is what the folks who came up with this idea had to go through to ensure all parties, especially the Russians, that the missle was incapable of launch.
Brian & George
Down a lot of stairs to the hall into the control room
This was a hard and fast rule.
Inside the control room. Our guide was a perky little thing
There we 2 seats for the 2 men who were tasked with launching if needed
They ask for 2 folks to "launch" the missle. It's a short scenario on how it worked.
That was my control console
Brian, looking so at home in the kill room
What can I say. I love a good cable run
We got to look at the crew's quarters
And down the very long hall to the missle
Hazmat suits
More hall
At the viewing port for the missle
The door into the missle silo platform
Love the little reminder.
Yes, the actual Tital II
One of the cut outs that shows the guts of the missle are gone
It is pretty amazing. Scary - since I grew up with "duck and cover". Like hiding under my desk would help
Another inspection cut out
Now outside. That's the permanent heavy duty cover that locks in the missle
Loking down into the sile through the class window over the top. The blast door is permanently at a partial open phase.
And satelites can see those little open cut outs on the missle. Russians are very suspicious.
Next day we went to the Pima Air and Space Museum.
br>it's about 80 acres or so with hundreds of planes, kept up with care by a dedicated staff and volunteers.
It just amazes me how many varied types of aircraft there are, some are really beautiful.
The museum is next to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and while we were there 2 A-10 Warthogs were doing practic maneuvers, including touch and go landings. Really great to watch
Starting our walk around the outside.It rained periodically, so we were in, then out, then in, then out.
Absolutely no idea on this one.
Inside of a bomb bay
Isn't he a cutie
A-10 Warthog
Henry Wickenburg discovered gold here in 1863, and as always, when a mine opens businesses follow.
The mine operated until 1942, after which it was abandoned and left in disrepair.
For years it was a run-down attraction which we visited in 2006. Around 2016 a Canadian couple bought it, cleaned it up, curated it and voila.
I sort of miss the old mess though
Another big maching but no description
But it has a big wheel
A different area and more big equipment
No idea what this tumbler was for
Please note the carbide lamp in the small glass display on the left. I have one just like it - used it for caving in the 1960s
A pneumatic drill
Nothing better than a cubby full of odd bits and tools
One of the remaining homes restored
And furnished. Last time this was all just abandoned junk
Assay or smelting office
The boullion storage area
And what happened to you if you tried to steal it. Macabre humor
I'm reliving my old car shopping day
Same car in 2006. Not the placement is different
The restored gas station and a really neat truck
The hanging tree. Yes. it was used.
A head frame
Nicol Raise Mine Shaft
Neat old wagon
The Vultures Roost - the old saloon
So, we did a bunch of nothing, including walking around the lake, going up to Crown King - famous for the saloon that was saved several times as the town burned, and a little hike
At the lake, and our famous fountain
The splash park - it has been renovated since he and Heather were here with Quinn
Geese. Lots of geese around the lake
Hiking
A nice trail at Adero Canyon
At Mill Restaurant in Crown King. They have some of the old mill works
On our way up we saw this guy down in a gully. Yes, it's a windy, often steep dirt road to Crown King
