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Notas do Editor
Bridges
Lake Havasu City, Arizona
By 1967, the old London Bridge, constructed out of reinforced stone masonry, had begun to deteriorate under the stresses of heavy modern traffic. Rather than just demolish the 1830s relic, the city of London decided that they would sell the span to the highest bidder.
The founder of Lake Havasu City, Robert P. McCullough, caught wind of the sale and saw a great opportunity to put his new community on the map. After bidding over two million dollars for the century-old bridge, it was his,. Now he just had to move the whole thing across the globe.
Wickenburg, Arizona
jails, wild west, trees, roadside attractions
As the story goes, drunks and criminals who were apprehended in Wickenburg between 1863 to 1890 were shackled to the tree as the town had no jail of its own. The prisoners would then be left out under the elements until a proper lawman could come down from Phoenix to collect them. According to the sign that now stands on the site, there were no escapes.
Chandler, Arizona
public, statues, art
Unveiled in 2008, the metal sculpture was intended to reference nearby Tumbleweed Park with its artistically-styled tumbleweed held 10 feet off the ground on a futuristic pedestal. The pedestal itself stands atop a squat block of carved concrete completing the entire piece. The work was commissioned from a Denver artist who costing the city $100,000 in tax dollars. After seeing the rather short result of the city council's choice, the public was less than impressed.
Tucson, Arizona
snakes, bridges, animals, architectural oddities
Built in 2002, the bridge was designed by a local artist who wanted to incorporate the local wildlife into his city project. The bridge, while abstract, is also quite biologically accurate. On one end the entrance to the bridge is shaped like the snake's gaping maw, the long fangs presented as support beams below sinister reptilian eyes. The bridge itself is covered by a metal mesh which forms the snake's body which is painted in the exact hues and gradient of a real rattlesnake. In addition, cars passing beneath the span can see the accurately spaced segments of the beast displayed on the belly. Coming out the... other... end of the snake, there is a tall statue shaped like a tail rattle that juts 30 feet out of the ground, also sculpted and painted biologically correct. Finally (as if this particular serpentine lily needed any gilding), if you walk in just the right place when exiting the bridge, you'll receive a loud and startling "goodbye" rattle from hidden speakers.
Holbrook, Arizona
wild west, roads
Amidst this atmosphere, Terrill’s Cottage Saloon was able to distinguish itself as particularly violent. It was in this grim watering hole in 1886 that a gunfight took place that ended in so much death that the floors were said to be slick with a "bucket of blood." According to one version of events the shoot out occurred between two rival groups of cowboys, one of which accusing the other of horse thievin'. The other extant version of events describes the classic Wild West scene of a poker game gone wrong. Whichever is the case, a number of rootin-tootin cowpokes were murdered. Just a year later, a tough-as-nails sheriff rolled into Holbrook to bring some justice to the town, but the bar had already changed its name to the "Buckets of Blood Saloon."
Winslow, Arizona
route 66, parks, music, statues
During the heyday of tourism along America's historic Route 66, Winslow was a well known spot among the arid Arizona expanse. So well known in fact that the band dads love, and everyone else loves to hate, the Eagles, mentioned the town in their classic rock staple, Take It Easy. Unfortunately things weren't easy for very much longer in Winslow as the trans-national I-40 highway finally opened and their stretch of Route 66 was no longer the necessary thoroughfare it once was. Once the road closed, so did a number of businesses in the town, making the future look bleak.
Seligman, Arizona
restaurants, roadside attractions, commercial curiosities
Located on the longest remaining stretch of Route 66, there is no better place to experience the genuine small town hospitality and quirky pride that once defined the Mother Road than Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In. Originally constructed in 1953 by the now deceased Juan Delgadillo with mostly scrap lumber from a nearby railroad yard, the eatery first gained fame when Delgadillo sliced the top off of his car and began covering it in eye-catching flare such as stickers and a fake Christmas tree. The ramshackle greasy spoon soon became a favorite among locals and travelers down the famous highway.
Golden Valley, Arizona
abandoned santa parks, santa claus, abandoned amusement parks, ghost towns
The Talbot's founded Santa Claus, Arizona, in 1937 as an attempt to attract buyers to the desert location. It featured several Christmas-themed buildings and visiting children could meet Santa Claus at any day of the year. The town's post office became very popular in December as children and parents could receive mail postmarked with the town's name.
LITTLEFIELD, Arizona
poison, hot springs, watery wonders, geological oddities
The unique limestone formation has taken the shape and color of a large, round, festive pumpkin, deposits creating a fibrous “vegetable” appearance, and the gourd's distinctive downward stripes. Water pours into the top of the pumpkin, turns a caustic, murky green, and then runs over the sides and into the river below.
Peach Springs, Arizona
curious caves, hotels, odd accommodations, caves
The POTUS moved enough food and supplies into the caves to support over 2,000 people for at least a month. While the bombs never dropped, in true American fashion, the site became a tourist spot. Visitors to the Grand Canyon can still take refuge in the caverns by staying in the Grand Canyon Caverns Underground Suite.