Cliff dwellings, canyons, and Wild West memorabilia make up just a small part of Arizona’s amazing heritage.
History
Arizona’s human history began when migrants from the north filtered into the canyons, valleys and deserts of the area, carving out innovative livings from rather harsh terrain. Some chose to dwell on cliffsides, while others hunted and gathered in the hot deserts. The descendants of those early Native Americans still own about 25% of Arizona’s land in the form of reservations. Major tribes include the Apache, Hopi and Navajo.
Montezuma Castle is a must-see.
The first European in Arizona was likely Marcos de Niza, a Spanish friar searching for gold (just like God intended). Joined by other migrants from Spanish Mexico, the area swelled with European migrants, and conflicts with the locals became more frequent and violent. Those fights did not subside in 1848, when the United States gained most of Arizona in the Mexican American War (the US government later purchased the southern third, including Tucson, for $10 million in 1853). Apparently not wanting to be governed from Washington, D.C., the Arizona Territory joined the Confederacy during the 1860s Civil War.
Soon after the Confederacy’s defeat, immigrants began to stream in looking for gold, copper and a place to herd their cattle. Fights with Native Americans continued, as notable leaders like Geronimo and Cochise resisted the white man’s advance. But the big guns tend to win, and they did; in 1912, Arizona became the last state in the Lower 48 to enter the Union.
Arizona’s population grew tremendously after World War II, in part because of a wonderful new invention: air conditioning. Cities like Phoenix and Tucson grew up and sprawled into the desert, with retirees and young people alike discovering new lives in the sunny Southwest. Unfortunately, Arizona was hit especially hard when the housing bubble burst in the late-2000s; foreclosures riddled Phoenix as property values plummeted.
Today, Arizona’s economy relies on manufacturing, mining and tourism.
Horseshoe Bend is one of the most visited places to visit in Arizona. Expect crowds and to pay for parking.
Must-See Attractions
Tips
Distance between gas stations and population centers in Arizona can be very long, so make sure to fill up the tank when you can.
Gas gouging is legal in Arizona. Fill inside of towns off the highway if needed to save money. There is always someplace cheap for the locals. See cheap gas, make sure you stop.
The heat is real; bring plenty of water when the forecast calls for a scorcher.
When scheduling, keep in mind that unlike neighboring states Arizona does not observe daylight savings time. During the winter Arizona observes Mountain Time but joins up with the Pacific Time Zone when other states spring forward.
On the other hand, the Navajo and Hopi reservations in Northeast Arizona observes Day Light savings time. Signs noting time changes are non-existent. Cell phones get their time from the nearest cell tower which can be wrong. Not an issue in the winter, but in the summer months, manually set your clocks.
