Cochise Stronghold A Sunsites, Arizona Treasure

         One extra nice day last November I grabbed my camera and decided to do some Exploring in Sunsites.  Small town---big sights for sure!   I have a long list of places to visit -and re-visit across this amazing state.  And on other sights that I post my pictures, many people suggested I check out the Cochise Stronghold.  Before venturing out the long dirt road I had some time to roam around Sunsites and get some pictures.  

Mural still in the works.

Alas another great coffee sign that no longer leads to coffee.

This odd mixture of goodies on this antique stores porch lured me to shop inside. 

A space ship!?  Right off the main drag through town.

I was now ready to move on from the small downtown part and jumped in our car.

Lonely marker  but to me history is always neat.

On the same road as the monument.  I bet the rent is cheap here.  And with free A/C

On the way into town these buildings have held my interest each time I have passed. 

On this day I had some time to check them out.  

Plus I am always a sucker for checking out old buildings.  Especially if no trespassing signs are up.

View just beyond these buildings.  Which happen to be for sale by the way.

Back in the car--on the way to the stronghold.

A sure sign one is in Arizona!

Abandoned church--I at first thought it was an old restaurant. 

The super sized new version is just down the street. 

Of course I had to check it out inside. 

Just passed a pile of discarded hymnals I found tons of tiny plastic Indians and cowboys fighting it out forever.

Back on the road.

After looking back through my pictures and realizing I have no pictures of

my vehicles past, I like to include them in my shots now. 

Already this vehicle is no longer running. 

Any time in the winter/fall I can send out pictures of the full on sunshine to my readers in places like Wyoming, I do!

Even more rare in Arizona, finding running water.

This tree has big ones!

Near the above trail head I passed this great old structure.

The trail, as many good ones do, soon started to go up hill.

Up in the rocks some where I tried to take a short cut back to the car and might have got a little lost for about a half hour.  During this time, I did something I never do in the desert--and went off trail.  Never do because I am deathly afraid of snakes--they cause me to break out into yelling like a little girl.   I hike by the false assumption that a snake can be seen before it bites, if you are on an open trail.  But not if you are in tall weeds, brush and such.  

The view from up top.

That was the road I was attempting to get too.

It looks much closer than it was. 

Eventually I did make it back to the vehicle. 

Snake bite free.

On the way back to Dragoon. 

Much more Exploring and pictures on my Washington state blog page

http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/

And my first blog page  www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

Please check them out.

And as always

**HAPPY TRAILS!!**

Field Trip!

            A huge greetings from Sunny Tucson to all of my readers!   I have so many posts in the works for this very page.  Many of them from a great little city named Tucson.  My buddy and best friend "Professor Getty" is coming for a visit next month and we will be doing lots of Exploring and possibly terrorizing of the local residents.  This and much more will be posted with lots of pictures of course.  For much more Exploring please check out my first and longest running blog page by far  at  www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com   This page just hit 32,000 views today--so please check it out and find out what all the fuss is about.  Today a quick post from Tucson several months back when I joined our youngest on a school field trip to some museums on campus.  Since the kiddos all return to school again this Thursday--Happy day for us adults!  I must say this trip was about three months ago now.  The trip was very enjoyable for Exploring, but much of the time the adults just seemed to be chasing there group of kids around.  Maybe not the best places to visit with ten year olds---I believe most of the wonder was lost on them.  Luckily my group of kids only had four and one was my own-so I could yell at him and have him help me round up the others.  Because of this I did not get as many shots as I had wished.  That and because there were a lot of kids--and I really did not want any pictures with other peoples kids in them.  The trip did make me want to visit campus again and Explore.  I have been on some great college campuses across the country and the old buildings and such seem to always make for some neat pictures. 

 

 

 

We first got guided tours of this great museum.  The tour was very good although for how much there was to see--we moved rather rapidly through it all even with the young-ins short attention spans. 

 

 

Every corner of this state seems to be full or rich history. 

Rich and interesting history. 

I will not ruin the story's by trying to share any of them here.  Because I will get them wrong.

 

 

 

Sorry about the extra blurry picture. 

I was rushing through this part of the building chasing after some kiddos, when I snagged this quick shot.

Any guesses what this very old devise is??

As a hint---if you were ever put in one--you were in for life.  It is medical.

That is all I can say for now. 

I will reveal what this is near the end of this very post. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First mini van?

 

 

Arizona's first state police car--no really.

 

 

 

 

Upstairs was a large area filled with hands on exhibits. 

This is a model of an old time convenience store long before Wally World took over your town.  Here I have to note that the yellow boxes in the picture hold coffee!

 

 

 

A large part of the museum was dedicated to mining.  With full sized equipment to check out and a mine shaft to go into. 

 

 

This section is relatively new--sadly we had to rush through the area to keep on our tour schedule.  

 

Once your eyes get used to the light again some great landscaping can be found outside also.

 

I believe the best part of the tour was while the kids were all seated in front of a life sized oxen pulling an old wooden card with wood wheels.  The ox was also mostly anatomy correct  and the kids questions soon focused on what was hanging down under the great ox. 

Our tour guide was about 80--he simply stated that this was a boy ox and that was a penis --and told the kids to move onto other questions.  Many hands went down after this announcement.

After this it was time for some home packed lunches in the grass.

And for the kids to run off some energy!

Than we entered the Natural History museum on campus.

 

 

 

Just outside. 

 

 

 

 

 

Much of this building is devoted to Native Americans.

There is a full room of great photos of native dwellings of the past.

And a full theatre to enjoy.

 

 

                Another huge part of the building is devoted to pottery.   Housing one of the largest collections in the World.   Above is just part of the display case leading into this section.  You can view all shapes and designs of pottery.  There is also a large viewing window into were the scientists piece together the pieces they find. 

 

 

 

                                                                        Peace pipe of old?

     This section also has a computer system that lets you roam around and view all of the logged in pieces of art.  You can electronically move shelf upon shelf and Explore the thousands of amazing pieces that call this home. 

OK boys and girls--we are nearing the end of this today's tour and blog post.   Have you had a chance to Google what this contraption is?  It is an Iron Lung. 

Three gold stars for you if you guessed right!

Two frowny face stickers for you if you have ever needed one of these.

 

 

 

Many more Exploring posts in the works!

Thank you for being patient.

Please share this page if you enjoy it!

http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/