There is a T-Rex at the gate to welcome visitors to Rattlesnake Ranch Sculpture Garden in Dragoon (population 178), Arizona. The sculpture garden is open during daylight hours and free to the public.
The garden contains sculptures of dinosaurs, desert snakes and lizards, cowboys, Indians, and wild horses.
A sign posted near the front gate warns visitors that all snakes in the sculpture garden are protected, including live ones.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
The outlaw Johnny Ringo had many ties to Cochise County in Arizona, most notably in Tombstone where he was affiliated with Ike Clanton and Frank Stilwell. Ringo did not get along well with Doc Holliday and the Earp brothers because he was suspected of having some involvement in the murder of Morgan Earp and the attempted murder of Virgil Earp.
On July 13, 1882, Ringo was found dead with a bullet hole in his head and his body propped up against a tree by Turkey Creek. The coroner that examined the body ruled his death a suicide, but most people believed Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday had something to do with his "suicide."
His grave is where they found his body, which is now on private property. The property owner wants to accommodate visitors and has fenced a pathway from the road to the grave. They just ask that visitors keep the gate closed and respect the site.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
Chiricahua National Monument was established in 1924 to protect extensive hoodoos and balancing rock formations. Over 85% of the monument is now located within a wilderness area, so it is a favorite destination for hikers.
Trail maps are available in the visitor center, along with information on the various ecosystems, rock formations, and plants, animals and rock formations found in the monument.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
Eight-mile Bonita Canyon Drive runs from the visitor center to Massai Point at the top of the canyon. This is the only road in the Monument. On most mornings, the National Park Service offers free shuttle bus service from the visitor center to the Echo Canyon and Massai Point trailheads.
When we lived in Arizona, we camped in the monument on several occasions and then rode the shuttle bus to the top of the canyon in the mornings. Walking downhill was easy, even with small children, and it allowed us to get a close-up view of the hoodoos.
On this trip we drove our own vehicle to Massai Point and then hiked around the top of canyon.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
Neil and Emma Erickson, Swedish immigrants, owned Faraway Ranch before it was acquired by the National Park Service. The Park Service still maintains the Erickson's house and opens the house for tours on various occasions.
In 1881, a group of "Buffalo Soldiers" stationed at a remote canyon in the Chiricahua Mountains had a lot of free time, so they built a 15-foot-tall-rock flagpole.
After President James A. Garfield was assassinated at the Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C., the soldiers decided to dedicate the rock flagpole as a monument to President Garfield. A large rock was engraved with his name and placed as part of the monument.
Over time the monument fell into disrepair and the rocks were scattered about the area. Some people picked up smaller rocks as souvenirs and used others around their ranches. The Ericksons eventually picked up the large engraved rock and included it in the construction of a fireplace they were building for their home. The ranch house, with the engraved Garfield rock in the fireplace, is now part of Chiricahua National Monument.
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| Web Picture - Unknown Photographer |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
