77, 84, 7 and 52/100 ... a train, sculptures and ties

We recently headed north to the quaint town of Jerome. There were three purposes to this mini-vacation: to escape the heat in the valley, to spend some time with MR KLUD (along with two other couples, we are Mike, Richard, Kristin, Laurie, Ursi and Doug, or MR KLUD for short!), and to see a few more things on my "100 Things to See in Arizona" list.

I have been to Jerome many times both as a child and as an adult which is why, even though it was on the list in the article in The Arizona Republic, I did not include it on my "100 Things" list. Jerome is a tenacious town, hanging on when it just doesn't seem possible. Like most mining towns in Arizona, it had to reinvent itself when the mines closed. Once known as "the wickedest town in the southwest," today it is a family-friendly hamlet built on Cleopatra Hill. Instead of exporting copper and other minerals, today art and wine are Jerome's primary money-makers.

We stayed at a delightful bed & breakfast known as The Surgeon's House. The United Verde Copper Company built the house (really a mansion) in 1916 for the town's chief surgeon, Dr. Arthur Carlson, and his family. It was just down the hill a bit from the company-built United Verde Hospital which today houses the Jerome Grand Hotel. After the mines closed prominent town's people lived in the Surgeon's House until it eventually fell into disrepair and was then purchased by Andrea Prince who passionately restored it to the beautiful B&B it is today.

Top left: The Surgeon's House B&B 

Top right: Common living area and garden room

Bottom left: Dining room

Bottom right: Breakfast buffet

We had an awesome view of the red rocks in Sedona from the front porch.

After spending the day exploring Jerome, it was time for the first item on my list, riding the Verde Canyon Railroad (#77). The train departs from the Clarkdale depot for an adventure through the Verde Canyon as it makes it way along the upper Verde River to Perkinsville.

Two renovated FP7 locomotives pull the newly renovated passenger cars through Verde Canyon. The FP7's were built in 1953 by General Motors for the Alaska Railroad. Today there are only ten FP locomotives in all of North America.

The railroad in parts of Arizona, like many towns, was built because of the mining industry. Mines in Jerome, Clarkdale, and other places in the Verde Valley needed a way to transport ore to smelters and then to bigger cities to trade. Small spurs joined up with major lines ... and when the mines closed, the spurs died. 

Today passengers are able to travel the same line that transported ore, equipment and passengers (mining officials) along one of those spurs as it snakes through the high desert. There are three kinds of accommodations on the train: first class has plushly upholstered facing seats, panoramic windows and a Champagne toast at departure, coach has Pullman-style seats and a snack bar offering refreshments,  and the exclusive caboose, designed for a private party of six or fewer passengers, has oversized chairs,  picture windows and a private outside viewing platform as well as a personal valet to see to your every whim. First-class and coach passengers may pass freely between their car and an open-air car choosing to sit inside or be outside. 

We enjoyed our first-class seats but spent a fair amount of time outside in the open-air car as well. Scenery whizzed past us as we were transported back to a more genteel time. Face-to-face conversations replaced texting and observing the ever-changing landscape replaced watching videos on YouTube as cell phone service became spotty at best. 

From the green valley to the craggy canyon walls, the view was never dull!

Today the railroad traverses rugged terrain for about 20 miles before reaching the once "booming" (ten or twelve families lived there at its peak!) but now ghost town of Perkinsville. In 1912, the railroad extended 18 miles farther to Drake, now also a ghost town. 

 Perkinsville may be a ghost town now, but  a few scenes from How The West Was Won (1962) were shot there. The depot building (on right) was in a scene with George Peppard, Debbie Reynolds and Eli Wallach. 

We stopped briefly at Perkinsville while the engines went around the train on a siding to hook up with the back of the train, which then became the front for the return trip. You can see the light of the engine coming down the siding.

We enjoyed the cool air as we watched the sun set with bats flying all around. The view on the return trip would be identical to what we just saw with one exception. Soon the stars would begin peeking out! 

MR KLUD in the outside observation car waiting for the stars to appear.

(Mike, Laurie, Richard, Kristin, Ursi, Doug)

Despite an overcast sky and rain in the early evening, by twilight the sky was relatively clear. As it darkened, stars and even a couple of planets (Mars and Saturn) began to show themselves. When it was fully dark, we were treated to a spectacular star show - we could even see the Milky Way! It was fabulously romantic to stand outside gazing up at the stars with our sweethearts - and all too soon we were back at the Clarkdale depot.

After another delightful breakfast the next morning, we took the long way home over the mountains, though Prescott and then to Yarnell where we spent some time at The Shrine of St. Joseph (#84), the patron saint of Happy Homes. Felix Lucero, the man who sculpted the statues in the Garden of Gethsemane in Tucson (link to that blog post here), was employed by the Catholic Action League of Arizona to make the statues in 1939. Although certainly Catholic in nature, the shrine has never been financially supported by any Christian denomination and is open to everyone. It relies on the generosity of its visitors and volunteers for maintenance and growth.

In addition to these sculptures by Felix Lucero, the Shrine of St. Joseph also has a Way of the Cross along a rustic pathway. 

Regardless of denominational preference, visitors can meditate on Christ's last hours from His condemnation to death to His resurrection as they walk along the trail. Like the ones in the Garden of Gethsemane, the sculptures are beautiful, touching the heart of those who visit. However, the ones at the Shrine of St. Joseph are in much better condition and are obviously cared for and maintained. 

Following 45 minutes of spiritual refreshment and art appreciation, we were ready to hit the trail again in search of another "sculpture" - Frog Rock (#7) on the west side of US89 north of downtown Congress, Arizona.

One beautiful day in 1929, Sara Perkins told her husband, Eli, that a group of rocks she saw while exploring their homestead with their two sons looked like a frog if she looked at it just so. Eli, a busy newspaperman and state legislator, didn't quite see the frog but told Sara she should paint the rocks to make the frog more visible. Determined to show her husband the frog, she and her sons lugged three buckets of paint and a ladder up the hill and painted the rocks. The result was an instant tourist attraction along SR89, the main road between Phoenix and Prescott at the time. And, incidentally, Eli finally saw the frog!

Sara repainted the rock when it faded until she was unable to do so and then her son, John, took over for her. When the Perkins family moved from the area, the townspeople of Congress took it upon themselves to maintain the frog. It has been painted for the past 81 years.

Although "Rocky the Frog" (the locals nickname) is visible from the highway, we walked up the hill, climbed through a break in a barbed wire fence and continued all the way to the rocks. Standing next to it, being dwarfed by its 16-foot height, gave us an appreciation for what Sara Perkins and the townspeople did when they painted it.

Our last stop of the day was the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg to see their Bola Tie Exhibit (#52). Why a bola tie exhibit? It reminded me of my dad, who was not a dress shirt and tie sort of guy, but had a job that required exactly that every day. One day he saw Phoenix newscaster Bill Close on TV wearing a bola tie - basically a cord worn around his neck fastened with a decorative clasp. From that time on, my dad wore a bola tie to work every day - and he had quite a few. 

My dad's favorite bola tie with an aspen leaf (his favorite tree) clasp.

The bola tie exhibit at the DCW Museum had, unfortunately, been retired to make room for another exhibit; all that was left up was a display case with 24 (instead of over 250) bola ties and a few photographs (and no photography allowed!). I did, however, learn a lot about Arizona's official state neckwear. Incidentally, Bill Close was one of a handful of men responsible for making the bola tie Arizona's official neckwear and then-Governor Jack Williams signed it into law on April 22, 1971, the first state to do so. New Mexico and Texas followed several years later. 

Vic Cedarstaff, a Wickenburg silversmith, was rounding up some wild horses in the Bradshaw Mountains when a gust of wind blew his hat off his head and the silver-tipped hatband came off the hat.  Rather than reattach the hatband, he just slipped it over his head and around his neck. A friend joked, "Nice tie you've got there!" and Vic's imagination ran wild. He invented and patented a tie slide in 1959 and the modern bola tie was born. He first named his creation a "piggin' necktie" because it looked like the pigging string cowboys used to hogtie calves but neither the name nor the tie caught on. Later he noticed it looked like a boleadera, a cattle and ostrich (!) snaring tool used in Argentina. He shortened the name to "bola" and it immediately became popular. Some people mistakenly call it a "bolo tie"- a bolo is a machete-like knife.

The weekend was a success! We escaped the heat for a bit, had great fun with MR KLUD and saw several things on my list. 

Thumb Up or Down: Up for the train, St. Joseph's Shrine and Frog Rock; neither up nor down for the bola tie                                                      exhibit since it wasn't on display

Miles Round Trip: 323.2 miles

Miles To Date: 8336.1 miles

Percent of List Completed: 77%

Date of This Trip: August 17-19, 2012

36 and 57/100 ... back in time

State route 82 cuts through the Coronado National Forest on its way to Patagonia. This pristine forest is not the typical pine tree wooded area I usually think of but is, instead, gently rolling green hills dotted with cottonwoods and cattle ranches. It is unlike any landscape I've seen on my travels through Arizona and reminiscent of a kinder, gentler time. We appreciated this verdant retreat as we continued on to the Velvet Elvis (#36 on my "100 Things to See in Arizona" list) and then on to Tubac (#57).

The 18-inches of rainfall annually shows here!

The tiny community of Patagonia, just 19 miles north of the Mexican border, is as unique as the landscape. Founded in 1899 as a supply town for the many mines and cattle ranches in the area, it was also a railroad stop for a line from Nogales, Mexico to Benson, Arizona where it met the main line of the Southern Pacific Railroad.

The old train station is now Town Hall.

The railroad pulled out in 1962 shortly after the mines closed and the community would have become a ghost town like a host of others in Arizona except for two things: artists and birders. Artists of every description (painters, sculptors, metal-workers, beaders, ...) soon flooded the area and set up shop. Business must be good as the one I talked to said her shop had been there for over 30 years. Hundreds of species of birds migrate through Patagonia making it an internationally renowned birder area attracting thousands of visitors annually. And, of course, these tourists need someplace to eat and sleep so several B&B's as well as eclectic eating establishments sprang up.

We stopped for lunch at the Velvet Elvis (#36), a funky little place that would be easy to miss if you weren't looking for it. And as soon as we walked in, I knew how it got its name!

Velvet Elvis -   292 Naugle Ave.  Patagonia, Arizona

Anyone who has been to a flea market has seen dozens of velvet paintings, usually of bare-breasted island women or ripply-muscled matadors... and, of course, Elvis. Interestingly, painting on velvet is not new. Marco Polo reported seeing paintings on velvet during his 14th century travels. During the Victorian era, it was a popular hobby among the upper middle class. Then what had been strictly upper-crust art moved to the lower-crust as it became popular with street artists in Tijuana and other Mexican border towns, reaching its peak in the late 1960's at the height of Elvis' immense popularity on the music scene. Why Elvis on velvet? Some say it just goes together like a peanut butter and banana sandwich.

Even without its artwork, the Velvet Elvis is a fabulous restaurant. Owner and executive chef Cecilia San Miguel brings an out of the ordinary vision to her restaurant's menu using only fresh ingredients, many organic and local if possible. She pairs ingredients with abandon creating unique pizzas, calzones and salad dishes.

We had "The Good, the Bad & the Ugly" pizza - a hand-tossed, thin crust pie with red sauce, pepperoni, sausage, Canadian bacon, mushrooms, black olives, caramelized onion and mozzarella cheese seasoned to perfection. Yeah, my mouth is watering just typing the description!

With full tummies, we continued our trip around the mountains to another small town, Tubac (#57). Although just 18 miles as the crow flies, 39 miles of paved roads took us south to Nogales and then north again on I-19 to this community that time seems to have forgotten.

Tubac is the oldest European settlement in Arizona. The Presidio San Ignacio de Tubac was established in 1752 by Spanish colonizers. Tubac Presidio State Park, Arizona's first state park, has done an excellent job preserving archeological remnants of the old presidio as well as documenting its fascinating history and we began our visit to Tubac there.

Along with a fabulous history lesson detailing the different groups (Pima, Tohona O'odam, Spaniards, Mexicans, Apaches, American settlers, etc.) that lived and fought in the area, the museum also has some seriously cool artifacts and exhibits. For example, Arizona's first newspaper, "The Weekly Arizonian," was printed in Tubac in March of 1859 and the museum houses its printing press. The paper closed and reopened several times before the printing press was moved to Tombstone where "The Epitaph" was printed. "The Weekly Arizonian" was the cause of Arizona's first recorded duel. Sylvester Mowry, a prominent citizen and Southern sympathizer in what is now southern Arizona, thought Arizona should be a separate territory (at the time it was part of the New Mexico territory) to ensure it becoming a "slave state" while the editor of the paper, Edward Cross, thought  otherwise. A duel ensued (where the museum now stands) with both missing the other person on the first two shots. Cross' rifle malfunctioned on the third shot at which time Mowry declared that a southern gentleman would never shoot an unarmed man. The men then bought a 42-gallon keg of whiskey and treated the town.

Top left: original adobe brick wall section of the Presidio

Top right: millstones used for grinding corn, wheat and other grains

Lower left: Territorial Seal

Lower right: Arizona's first printing press

A well-worn path is all that marks one of Arizona's highways of the past. Camino de Tumacacori was patrolled by Spanish soldiers from the Presidio in the 1700's and extended from missions and towns in Sonora, Mexico to Tubac, north to Tucson, and eventually west to San Francisco. Juan Bautista de Anza, along with his soldiers, their wives, children, servants and herds of cattle, travelled this highway passing this location on their way to California where they founded San Francisco in 1775. It was used for over 200 years and today is known as the Anza Trail.

The Anza Trail ... an old interstate freeway!

An old adobe home sits on the grounds of the park. Built in the 1890's, the modest home was typical of most in the area and consisted of two rooms: a living room and a smaller room (probably a bedroom) both with dirt floors. A kitchen was added later followed by running water, electricity and a wood floor. The "bathroom" remained outside. 

The Rojas House

The rooms look fairly modern now - early to mid-1900's!

There is much more to see at Tubac Presidio State Park and we plan to visit there again. Today Tubac is known internationally as Arizona's only true artist colony with over 90 galleries and studios. It reminds me a little of a hippie community with shops selling pottery, homemade soaps and candles, jewelry and kites as well as galleries with sophisticated (meaning expen$ive!) paintings.

There is definitely something for every taste... painters, sculptors, potters, artisans, jewelry-makers all call Tubac home.

We liked this shop filled with metal yard art, pottery and furniture from Mexican artisans. I thought the eight-foot tall giraffe was fun!

Tubac is unquestionably unique... a town of contrasts. We spent an afternoon exploring it but will definitely return to do more shopping and sample an eatery or two. 

On the way home we were treated to another magnificent Arizona sunset!

Thumb Up or Down: Up!

Miles Round Trip: 435.4  miles

Miles to Date: 8012.9 miles

Percent of List Completed: 73%

Date of This Trip: August 10-11, 2012

47, 10 and 64/100 ... things that fly

I imagine Adam and Eve were sitting in the Garden of Eden one day watching the birds and insects flit here and there, soaring in the sky, and wondered what it would be like to defy gravity and fly. The phenomenon of flight continues to fascinate most of us despite air travel becoming an everyday occurrence.

We recently visited the 309 AMARG, nicknamed "The Boneyard" (#47 on my "100 Things To Do In Arizona" list), the ski lift at Mt. Lemmon (#10) and the Butterfly Garden in Patagonia (#64). All three are a kind of sanctuary for things that fly.

Shortly after WWII, the Army created a storage facility for surplus B-29 and C-47 aircraft at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (D-MAFB) in Tucson. Today this facility is the 309 AMARG (Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group) or "Boneyard" and includes more than 4,400 aircraft and 13 aerospace vehicles from the military and several federal agencies including NASA and NOAO. D-MAFB was chosen because of the scant rainfall and low humidity which allows aircraft to be stored indefinitely with minimal deterioration and the hard, clay-like soil (caliche) which allows aircraft to be parked on the desert floor rather than needing to build expensive parking ramps.

Row and after row of aircraft were lined up.

(We were not allowed to get off the tour bus so some photos have glass glare.)

309 AMARG has two purposes: maintenance and regeneration. When aircraft need retrofitting, remodeling or updates, they are sent here. It is the "dry dock" for aircraft. When there is a surplus of a certain type of aircraft, they are safely taken apart and stored. In this case, it is a "storage unit." Both "dry dock" and "storage unit" fall under maintenance. As an aircraft is redesigned and modified, earlier versions are sometimes sold to our Allies - a kind of "Craigslist" for Aircraft. And when an old aircraft becomes structurally unsound and unsafe to fly, it will be grounded and used for spare parts - a kind of "NAPA Parts Store" for aircraft. Eventually, when all the parts have been stripped or are obsolete, the aircraft is scrapped for metal - a kind of "Recycling Program." "Craigslist", the "NAPA Parts Store" and the "Recycling Program" fall under regeneration. The group is quite profitable as every dollar in costs generates $10 profit.

I like the aircraft with the bat wings on the tail- could it be a Bat Jet?

Our tour guide, like most of the Boneyard guides, was a retired Air Force pilot who now volunteers as a tour guide at the Boneyard. Their affection and respect for these aircraft is evident in the way they talk about them. It is a sanctuary for both the aircraft and the pilots that flew them.

After a quick lunch, it was time to skeedaddle up Mt. Lemon to Ski Valley. As we left Tucson behind and headed up the mountain, it was 105 degrees outside. The temperature had dropped 27 degrees by the time we got to Ski Valley to take the ski lift to the summit (#10). Those who know me will recognize that this would require me to come face-to-face with a rather significant fear of mine - namely, having my feet dangle far (as in 18 inches!) above the ground. Will I be able to do it?

As I watched the ski lift from the safety of the ground, I remembered the reasons I wanted to ride it to the top: friends and family had told me 1) it was fun, almost thrilling even, 2) it is beautiful, a panoramic vista you can't see from the ground, and 3) there is a quiet solitude you get only by being above everything else - people, noise, commotion.

This didn't look too bad- and the chairs were only four or five feet above the ground. 

With a little instruction and coaxing from Richard, I was able to get on the ski lift without being knocked over or falling off! And I kept my eyes OPEN!!

But wait! The ground is ... getting ... farther ... and farther ... away!

And my feet are dangling!

You can tell the ground is FAR away because it's out of focus!

< remember to breathe >

I could feel my heart racing. Surely we're almost to the top?!

Richard was talking to me, trying to distract me. I have no idea what he said but could hear the calm in his voice. And he seemed to be enjoying himself. 

Remember to breathe.

Are you kidding me? They have to post a sign about this? That means someone has actually swung and bounced the chairs?

Are we there yet????????

No really, how far is it to the top?

A MILE?????

Remember to breathe.

Look around.

Trees that were damaged in the Aspen Fire (2003) became more numerous.

And several observatories are at the top!

Finally, the top of the mountain was in view... and the platform to get off the chair lift. 

I managed to get off the chair lift and move away without getting hit in the head or falling down. 

The summit is at 9100 feet; the ski lift climbs 900 feet during its one-mile trek and took us about 15 minutes. Once my feet were no longer dangling but firmly planted on solid ground, I realized that I did enjoy the ride. Well, I enjoyed that last five minutes of the ride. 

Now it was time to explore the top of the mountain. The first thing we noticed was that it was even cooler. 

Dozens of towers (microwave repeaters and other communication stuff) and blackened trees from the Aspen Fire dotted the summit making it look inhospitable and uninviting. 

But standing on the edge looking south gave us a panoramic aerial view of Tucson. I tried to pick out places I know there but didn't have much success.

And looking northeast gave us a view of Summerhaven, a tiny community near the summit.

After walking around for about 45 minutes, it was time to head back down the mountain. I felt a tiny bit of apprehension as I got on the ski lift but then became engrossed in the view which was completely different from what I saw going up the mountain.

As soon as we got away from the loading ramp and were on our way, I noticed the quiet. Occasionally we would hear a bird chirping or the mechanical sound of the chair going over the joints but nothing else. Just quiet. 

We could see for miles and miles. It was quiet ... and peaceful ... a nap for my mind!

Although the ski lift operator assured me it took the same amount of time to come down as it did to go up, the ride down seemed much shorter. Before I was ready, it was time to get off - which I did like a pro ... and with a big smile on my face! I had a sanctuary above the ground; a place to just let my mind wander, thinking about nothing and everything.

No longer anticipating meeting my fear as I had on the way up, I enjoyed the drive down the mountain.  We were treated to quite a few hoodoos - tall, thin columns of rock that extend upwards from the bottom of an arid drainage basin. They vary in height from five or six feet to 80 or 90 feet. 

If you look at them long enough, they begin to look like famous people! 

We stopped at a few places to get a better look at these unusual-looking formations. They are made by wind and water erosion and often have a "capstone" made of harder rock that gives some protection from the elements to the column. 

At this spot, the parking area was on the other side of the street from the hoodoos. While I appreciated the crosswalk, I am dismayed that we need a huge 3-foot by 5-foot sign instructing pedestrians to look both ways before they cross the street - are we all still in kindergarten? But that's a post for another day.

The next day we were off to southern Arizona - specifically the Butterfly Garden in Patagonia (#64). While well-known internationally by birders, hundreds of species of butterflies also migrate through southern Arizona during the summer months.  Located on the south side of Town Park, the 800 square foot butterfly sanctuary was built in 1996 with donations from local residents and organizations and is overseen by a group of volunteers. 

We saw LOTS of butterflies like the Bairds Old World Swallowtail (on left) and the Queen Butterfly (on right). 

We strolled through the park, sat on several benches and watched dozens and dozens of butterflies dance around the flowers. The garden is full of their favorite plants so it's a bit like watching children let loose in a candy shop. It is definitely a sanctuary for the butterflies - but it is also a haven for the people that stop to look at the beautiful flowers, watch the gorgeous butterflies flit about and enjoy nature!

Thumb Up or Down: UP for all three!

Miles Round Trip: see next post

Miles To Date: see next post

Percent of List Completed: 71%

Date of This Trip: August, 10-11, 2012

3/100... music makes my heart sing ♪♬♩♫

How do Arizonans stay cool in the extreme heat of the summer? One way is to take advantage of the free air conditioning in museums. Yes, most have an admission price but it's the same winter and summer so the ultra-cool air is free! During a recent heat wave when temperatures were above 110℉, I visited the Musical Instrument Museum (#3 on my "100 Things in Arizona" list) in Scottsdale.

The Musical Instrument Museum (or MIM, for short) is located in north Scottsdale just south of Loop 101 at Tatum Blvd.

The museum is laid out in two large wings with a connecting annex. Oh, and there are two floors that are open to the public. Yeah, it's huge! In fact, it is the biggest museum of its type in the world. I was told by several people that while it might be possible to see the entire museum in one day, it would be a very long day and probably quite over-whelming. When I arrived, I asked the docent at the front desk how to get the most out of my visit given that I had only three hours to spend there. After giving me a map and  a headset, he told me to walk through and stop at what looked interesting. 

Most of the displays are on the top floor but I did pass two rather large rooms on the first floor that I peeked in first. One had a magnificent display of guitars; some were very old, others were quite ornamental. It was fascinating to see so may different ones in the same room. The other room housed a display showing how instruments are made and how they have evolved over time. Both exhibits were interesting but I didn't want to spend too much time there - I will definitely look through those rooms again sometime!

I thought the double-necked guitar (top left) was interesting - I'd like to watch someone play one some time! The instrument on the bottom right is a Paigu (hourglass drum) - it would have had a drumhead tied to the hooks. It dates back to over 400 years BC and is the oldest object in MIM's collection.

After heading upstairs, I discovered much of the museum is laid out by country or region. The headsets are wireless and activate when you approach an audio/video screen at a display. I didn't have to punch in numbers that correspond to an exhibit or make sure I was "going in order" which I found helpful.

Most exhibits had an audio/visual screen where an instrument was demonstrated or talked about. If dancing or singing was part of their musical culture, that might be shown as well.

Some country exhibits were quite large or extensive while others were small. I walked fairly quickly through many of these and would like to come back later and spend more time.

I did spend a bit of time at the Trinidad and Tobago exhibit. Their music fascinates me because they have taken ordinary, everyday items like a metal trash can or a rum bottle and a spoon and used it to make music. And the steel drums are amazing! Although an extremely impoverished nation, their music is rich in color and expression.

Although he never played an instrument, my dad loved all kinds of music and often played records of great jazz musicians and military bands playing marches and country artists strumming guitars. He encouraged me to learn to play an instrument and suggested the flute because it's easy to carry (he was right about that!). I played from fourth grade through high school and developed my own love of music. I was delighted to find an exhibit just about flutes!

And none of them looked like mine! Some of these are played vertically like a clarinet and others are played horizontally like a modern flute.

One of my most favorite exhibits is the Arizona Exhibit, a very large room filled with all things that combine Arizona and music, from long ago as well as yesterday. Here are a couple of my favorite things:

The UofA - ASU rivalry began long ago and will continue, I think, forever. Even their marching band uniforms are across the hall from each other!

Anyone born before 1975 who lived in the Phoenix area will be transported back to childhood when they see this exhibit. The Wallace & Ladmo Show aired on KPHO-Channel 5 for 35 years  and appealed to children as well as adults. Mike Condello was hired in 1960 as the show's music director and recorded several songs to the tunes of Beatles songs that were used on the show. And, of course, who can forget "Ho ho ha ha hee hee ha ha...!"? 

As I was walking from hall to hall, I heard someone playing a piano ... and doing it beautifully. At first I thought it was broadcast music but then I noticed it stopped and started as though someone was practicing. 

Museum guests are encouraged to tickle the ivories on the grand piano in the lobby area. Amazingly, I heard no one playing chopsticks or just messing around ... nothing but beautiful music came forth.

After my quick break listening to the piano music, I ventured into the Artist Gallery. What an incredibly fun place! It was like a walk down memory lane.

I saw old friends like Toby Keith, Buck Owens and Elvis!

The mark of a great museum, in my opinion, is that it actively engages its visitors. MIM does this in the Experience Gallery where young and old alike are encouraged to bang a gong, strum a harp or play one of the other instruments on display there. 

What a fun way to learn about music and instruments! I played the harp ... not well, but I played it!

Restoration is an important part of most museums' work. The Conservation Lab at MIM gives guests a glimpse of the behind the scenes preservation and restoration work they do to ensure the structural integrity of musical instruments and artifacts for future generations.

No one was in the lab when I was there but it was interesting to see the facility.

In addition to displaying over 15,000 musical instruments from nearly 200 countries and territories around the globe, MIM also has a concert hall where you can listen to the music stylings of people like Sondre Lerche, Arturo Sandoval, the Red Rocks Music Festival Ensemble or a host of others. I peeked in the hall on my way out and look forward to coming back to hear a concert sometime.

In what seemed like no time at all, my three hours were gone and I needed to leave. I will definitely come back to explore this museum again ... and again. It is a place where you can learn something, listen to some great music and leave feeling revived. 

This quote is prevalent throughout the museum. As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, "Music is the universal language of mankind." It speaks to all people without translation.

Thumb Up or Down: UP!

Miles Round Trip: 63.3 miles

Miles To Date: 7577.5 miles

Percent of List Completed: 68%

Date of This Trip: July 26, 2012