RonnieAdventure #0192 - Arizona, 2016 Part IV [Top Secret]

Photographer Unknown

The Titan Missile Museum is located about 20 miles south of Tucson and is the only Titan II Missile site remaining after the missiles were deactivated in 1987. This mammoth underground facility contains the original launch control center, tunnels, living quarters, and the last remaining 103 foot tall Titan II missile, located in its original silo. The Titan II is the largest missile ever built by the United States and could be launched with pin-point accuracy against targets that are still classified. Also on display above ground are the first and second stage rocket engine boosters

Most people know Amado (Arizona) as the location of the unique Longhorn Grill restaurant, but it is also the freeway exit for the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory. The observatory is a joint venture between the Smithsonian Institution and the University of Arizona, and the former location of a 6-mirror Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT) that was operational from 1979 to 1998. The MMT telescope has now been replaced with a single 6.5 meter mirror (the 14th largest telescope in the world), but the site is still called the MMT Observatory. Tours of the telescope are available by reservation, or you can stop by the visitor center at the base of the mountain without reservations Monday-Friday.

The Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) is located at the visitor center and was built to observe gamma rays emitted from supernovae, black holes, neutron stars and other extremely powerful astrophysical sources. VERITAS contains four telescopes joined together so that in 30 seconds the system can detect the same amount of information that required more than 100 hours using the 10-meter Whipple telescope in 1989. 

In 1691 Father Eusebio Francisco Kino founded the Tumacacori Mission to serve the Tohono O'odham Indians that were living in the area. Work began in about 1800 to build a large adobe church to match Misssion San Xavier del Bac not too far to the north. A five foot thick cobblestone foundation was laid and then construction funds dried up. In 1821, the mission sold 4,000 head of cattle to a local rancher and construction resumed, raising the walls to 14 feet. Unfortunately, the rancher quit making payments on the cattle and constructed stopped. In 1823 the rancher continued paying on his debt and the church was completed, but to a much smaller scale than had originally been planned. In 1828, Mexico ordered all of the Spanish missionaries to leave the country and they were not allowed to return until 1853 when the mission became part of the United States as part of the Gadsden Purchase. The National Park Service assumed control of the abandoned mission in 1916 and some restoration was performed to stabilize the adobe building. An interesting museum is attached to the visitor center that contains a history of the mission and a number of artifacts. 

Photographer Unknown

Tubac Presidio was established in 1752 just north of the Tumacacori Mission and is known for a number of Firsts: Arizona's First European Community, First Spanish Land Grant, First Arizona Printing Press, First Arizona Newspaper, First commercial enterprise in the Gadsden Purchase (Sonora Exploring and Mining Company), First introduction of the Freiberg System of Amalgamation in USA, and First Arizona State Park (Tubac Presidio State Historic Park). Tubac is now an artist community featuring over 100 shops, galleries, studios, restaurants and an amazing museum (not to be missed) at the State Park, featuring over 2,000 years of Southwest history. It is easy to spend an entire day exploring Tubac!