Making the Connection: Arizona’s Historic Highway 89

Making the Connection: Arizona’s Historic Highway 89

Two historic major east-west highways cross Arizona, and each played a role in the westward migrations of the early 20th century. US Route 66 carried people across northern Arizona from Chicago to Santa Monica. US Route 80 linked Savannah to San Diego through southern...
Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area

Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area

Add the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area in southern Arizona to your must-see places along Historic US Route 89. The heritage area brings together the cultural, historical, and natural resources of the Santa Cruz River watershed to provide visitors with a...
Tourists, Tourists Everywhere

Tourists, Tourists Everywhere

As we slowly reopen from our pandemic lock down, people are hitting the road to visit the national parks. Although I haven’t experienced it first hand yet, I hear that the parks are getting crowded with tourists. This got me to thinking about the photographs I have...
US Route 89 Roadside Attraction: Catalina State Park

US Route 89 Roadside Attraction: Catalina State Park

The Santa Catalina Mountains dominate the horizon as you approach Tucson from any direction. The tallest peak is Mount Lemon at over 9,100 feet, some 6,900 feet above the surrounding valley. The whole range covers 200 square miles and is one of the largest of the...
US Route 89 Roadside Attraction: Tom Mix Memorial

US Route 89 Roadside Attraction: Tom Mix Memorial

Before Hopalong Cassidy and the Lone Ranger became cowboy heroes, Tom Mix had won the hearts of American children. In a career that started in 1909 and lasted until 1940, he made hundreds of films. His performances were famous for showmanship featuring action over...
Where Is US Route 89 in Arizona?

Where Is US Route 89 in Arizona?

When you look at a map of Arizona, US 89 is hard to find. In fact, it only exists from Flagstaff to Page and into Utah. So what happened to our border to border highway? A little background—when the federal highway system came into existence in the late 1920s, US...