Arizona - Jerome

We headed to Sedona to see the red rocks that we remembered but had a real nice surprise when we found out we went through Jerome.

The drive was very winding and slow going.  A lot of hairpin turns and switchbacks but very scenic.

 the summit at 7000 ft. - notice the winding road not my speed!

it was very hazy in the distance

Jerome is perched on the side of Cleopatra Hill over rich ore deposits.  In 1876, mining claims and a mill were located near the town. 

 

The first mining claims were filed in 1876 within 20 years Jerome was a billion dollar copper mecca. It was also one of the wickedest and wildest towns in the west. Mining shutdown in 1952 and Jerome became a ghost town with only 100 people remaining. Today it is a thriving community and tourist destination. It is also a national historic landmark.

Jerome has survived many fires and what you see today walking down main street are the remnants of the 'red light' district.
Company Hill, hotels and saloons.  Today the population is around 500.

the building with the black and white canopies is the Mile High Cafe

 

We ate breakfast at the Mile High Grill & Inn.  While we waited for our meal we were entertained by all the signs on the walls.

 

I think this sign is my sign!

 

an innovative way to use propellers

 

We walked around a bit but everything is so up and down we soon gave up. 

 

 

 

Arizona - Arcosanti - Cordes Junction

We had never heard of this experimental community and decided to check it out.  The brochure said no cost for tours but a $10 donation per person was appreciated.  We were charged $10 each for the tour and given a tax receipt.  So much for true advertising!

 

 

 

As you drive up to this urban laboratory over a rough dirt road the first thing you see are cement buildings.  As you walk past a high fence and look around the corner there seems to be a lot of junk stored maybe for future use.  The overall feel of the place is something ill kept and in need of some TLC.

 

the tall trees are Cypresses

my own artsy view from the entryway

 

Our group was led by a young gal from China who came to live and study in this community.   Most of the people that we saw who worked or lived at this facility were young.  There are a lot of cement stairs to traverse when going through this complex.

 

We were in time for a bronze pour and were led to the foundry where more young people were about to pour molten bronze into molds surrounded by sand.

 

bronze foundry

molds waiting for molten bronze

crucible and molten bronze weighs about 200 pounds

bronze heated to 1800F

molten bronze being poured into a mold

after the pour and outside box removed

 

bronze bells - verdigris color achieved by muriatic bath

bronze bell out of a mold - top part would be cut off later

 Next came a tour of the ceramic building.  We saw two potters at work.  The clay comes from Globe which is southeast of Mesa.

ceramic apse (an architectural term for a quarter sphere)

The greatest amount of time is spent on making ceramic and bronze windbells. 

We toured the living quarters (outside only), an amphitheatre, a music room and a library.

stairway leads to private living quarters

the amphitheatre holds a stage with backdrop of future shops and stores

apartments above future shops

Being built into the side of a cliff gives a terrific view of the surrounding countryside.  There were however no safety rails to stop you  from stepping off the side of the walkways.

 the chimney in the center of the picture rises from a three bedroom apartment

which is built into the side of the cliff

 

the crane is being used for the next step of this project

and that is construction of greenhouses

This experimental city of earth formed concrete structures was the dream of Paolo Soleri an architectural innovator.

Arizona - Montezuma Castle - Verde Valley

From 600 to 1450 AD Sinagua culture, a native people farmed and traded in the Verde Valley. 

This cliff dwelling was built high above the Beaver Creek.  It is not known why these people built these homes this way.

this dwelling held 35 people

limestone cliffs

Beaver River

a larger dwelling was built here but after a fire all that remains

are rubble and the foundations of some of the buildings

Arizona Sycamore tree used for roof poles

natural caves used for storing various products

some remaining foundations

 

The Sinagua people farmed and lived in this region for 300 years and then mysteriously began to leave.  There is no written word of the lives of these people so we can only hazard a guess as to what happened to this culture.