Keeping History Alive....museum tramping in Quanah and Crowell

I am not a good, loving-it-all camper. Oh, I have camped since childhood, backpacked 10+ miles into the Cascades more than once (when I was much younger) and was willing to sleep on the ground sans air mattress enough times to really appreciate the comforts of a good pillow-top. I want the creature comforts of a hot shower, food cooked inside a dry RV-without the added nutrients provided by sand/ash/bugs. The best part of our RV life is seeing places I would never take an airplane or a car trip to visit...it's the history of my ancestors, both Native American and the Europeans that came over on the Mayflower. It is the museums in small towns, monitored by volunteers in most cases, lovingly chronicled and displaying the local history that appeals to me. So this post is about the local museums with some history thrown in.

This is the Quanah Historical Museum building. Once the Quanah, Acme & Pacific Railway depot....
built in 1908, a historical landmark
and part of the Hardeman County
 Jail museum
(located behind this building > )









Quanah, TX...named for the last Comanche Chief - Quanah Parker....2010 census pop. 2642. The town went into decline when the Quanah, Acme and Pacific Railroad left town in 1982.

 

In addition to the Chief Quanah and railroad history, Astronaut Edward Givens - killed in a car accident while training for Apollo 7, Lane Frost - 1987 PRCA World Champion Bull Rider, cotton production, US veteran's and the Masonic Lodge histories are included within it's walls. It's a two story building packed with history, admission FREE.

 

We were lucky to visit on Thursday, the volunteer informed us "had we come on Friday the museum would be closed as she had a funeral to attend." If you go, go early - she closes at 3pm to gather up grandchildren after school.

 

This mural is attached to the building adjacent to the museum. Sadly many of the buildings are so old, they are crumbling and so while we were visiting the old hotel was demolished and there were visible signs that more of the more dangerous buildings would also be taken down. The brick street is directly behind the museum....gorgeous really.

 

Quanah is the Hardeman County seat and this courthouse was under restoration (so we couldn't go up to the cupola)

  

 This is the dedication marker for Chief Quanah on the grounds of the courthouse.

 

Onto Crowell's Firehall Museum (2010 census pop. 826)....20 miles from Quanah...it's museum is located on the main drag in what was once the Firehouse....while we were here one of the locals, a 80 y/o (he said so, although he didn't look much older than 70) informed us that "we had to work real hard to get to Crowell". What he didn't know was we were glad we did.

 

 



 

The Sante Fe Depot, built in 1908, is home to the Crowell Public Library (below) and Museum. The museum educates visitors on the local history and has an extensive collection dedicated to Cynthia Ann Parker who was kidnapped by Comanche Indians and eventually lived with them for over 25 years. The depot is open Monday to Friday, and library hours Noon - 5pm. Cynthia Ann Parker was the mother of Chief Quanah. 

 

 

 Sweet Cream Suds proprietor Carli, local native, raises her own goats out on the Pease River. Hand-milked, hand-made soap, lotions and body butters can be found here in her retail outlet in Crowell or on-line (click on the link posted within the shop name above. You can find her on Facebook as well.)

She also carries a few artisans products like the pottery and yarn pictured below.

I appreciate the ingenuity and creative efforts of small town businesses to keep and build on their history so we support them by supporting their businesses whenever we can. Marlow Supply, Tater's Café and Gentry's Grocery and Supply (the oldest surviving business - 69 years - in town)

 

 Gentry's was a surprise, and a bit scary given the rather large hole in the floor at the back part of the building...but Mr. Gentry was really sweet and we found the insect (death bomb) spray that we needed. It is a must see if you are in the 'hood.

 

 See these feet....?

 

 That's a "hitching ring", along with several others on E. Commerce (just down from Marlow's and in front of the drugstore). 

 

The feet however, are moving on....see ya.

 

Thanks for your time...next up is the National Wild Hog Cook-off post.

 

~Ciao!

 



Inscriptions, volcanoes, lava beds....you choose

 

 Parked in the campground at Bluewater Lake State Park...WOW!. It is virtually empty, after September 15 - first come - first serve. It is a beautiful park @ 6800', and although many of the site roads are closed for the season , the walk to the lake is close by.

 

Agenda for today: view inscriptions @ El Morro outside Ramah, NM.  On the drive to Ramah we passed by the  El Malpais Information Center and decided to take a peek for a future visit.

 

 

 

This park is all about volcanic caves, lava flows and 

cinder cones, all viewable by hikes or scenic drives.

It's on our bucket list as our time in the area is short

and we still had mile to drive to El Morro.

 

the point of the park

Petroglyphs

 

Example of  some of the inscriptions

Big Horn Sheep petroglyphs...

 

Inscription and petroglyph

The visitor center was built in 1964, blends nicely into the sandstone and juniper landscape. Interesting displays of Spaniard conquest/Catholicism, information about the Ancestral Pueblo ruin, Astinna. There is also a 9 site campground that provides a Sky Night Program during normal seasonal hours...given that there is NOTHING even a close to a street lamp or Mickey D's neon sign -the stars must be amazing.

 

Twenty miles away you can find Zuni Nation - which offers a tour of the Zuni Pueblo if you happen to be in the area.  I left there with opal and silver jewelry...hey, I love jewelry artists too.

 

~Ciao...

Bryce Canyon - Magnificent!

23 October 2011

Another 'bucket list' park checked off...and we just started this trip 7 days and several hundred miles ago.

Entrance to Red Canyon

Yesterday we drove to Bryce Canyon from Ely, NV - down US 89 and US 63, through Red Canyon (gorgeous drive) and into the park. We were able to secure a campsite in the North Campground -on a first -come, first -serve basis and then off to the Visitor Center

Bryce Canyon Visitor Center & Museum

…where we learned about the evening Ranger Program about the "Unseen Universe" - Night Sky. After the presentation we got to trek out to the dark, very dark parking lot where 3 telescopes were set up for viewing. We were able to see Jupiter and it's 3 moons (tres cool), Milky Way, a Star Custer that is suppose to merge with the MW, and Andromeda…. This all before 9:30pm. A long and exhausting day.

We hiked, what the NPS refers to as, "World's Best 3-mile hike"  today  - starting at Sunset Point...which loops through Bryce Amphitheater.

I am not even sure I can accurately describe the beauty of this park. It is, without a doubt, breathtakingly beautiful!  There are several 'moderate' hikes  to choose from….we combined Queens Garden and Navajo Loop which also has a 580' elevation change. But @8000' does that really make a difference?... especially since we had to climb back out…gorgeous, simply gorgeous.

Enjoy the photos of our day... and the short video of Bryce Amphitheater...bet it makes you want to visit.

~Peace 

Old Faithful and water events....Yellowstone National Park

Just the beginning of posts about our travels through the Grand Tetons and Yellowstond National Park.

Thought I would share some of the short videos we took while in Yellowstone National Park - enjoy

Old Faithful

This one is called Spasmodic Geyser

LeHardy Rapids...glorious and great long walk along the edge of the river/rapids....

Lower Falls - one of two falls on the Yellowstone River with spectacular view points....

Yellowstone National Park for information on lodging, road conditions etc.

Chiricahua - it's pronounced "Cheer-i-cow-ah"

The Chiricahua National Monument …. The name has nothing to do with cows that is for sure. What a stunningly beautiful spot in SE Arizona. So far I haven't seen another spot in this part of the state where the forest meets desert in such an impactful way. It was an "oh my gosh" moment for sure.



View as you approach the park

Having arrived at the park we toured the visitor center and decided to continue our drive up to Massai Point…the only problem with this day was the 30-50mph winds that we encountered and stayed with us through our Echo Canyon Grotto hike. At 6870' it would be a bit on the chilly side - even without the wind, but we were not to be deterred. There was even a bit of snow still hanging onto the edges where the Sun could not reach to melt, which always makes my inner child rejoice - it's about the possibility of a snow-ball fight don't you know. Even in Arizona!

Remains of our snowball fight

We arrived too late in the day to complete the 3.3 mi Echo Canyon Loop Hike, although we did manage to get a good 2 mi (round-trip) in before returning to our car. The park is large and has several hikes of varying lengths, trails that were created by the Conservation Corps, Faraway Ranch is located on the grounds and once again our NPS annual pass gave us free entry again. That pass has paid for itself just in the last 6 months.

On a lighter note, upon leaving the Massai Point parking lot we encountered this sign - which caused us both to laugh out loud. The road is narrow, winding, downhill and there is just too much beautiful scenery to go fast...so instead we looked for the "radar" vehicle. At over 6700' we think this was a test!

Radar posting....really?

This is one park we will be spending more time in as we travel back and forth to SE Arizona in the future. Enjoy the additional photos to the right.

Cheers! Have a great day and enjoy your life.

Big Horn Sheep, birds and lizards

Wednesday, 19 January 2011

While talking with our Canadian neighbors at a small neighborhood gathering last night we were directed to go in search of Martinez Lake and the surrounding Imperial National Wildlife Refuge.
With hats and sun block on hand, out we went in search of nature. Mike is and has been in search for a Big Horn Sheep or Mountain Goat sightings since we arrived in the desert.

To get there, one has to cross the US Army property and today we were privileged to see the US Army SkyKNIGHTS Team jump from a C130 over the desert.



C130



US Army Skyknights


<< C130 just after take off






 Parachuter nearing landing target >>

A series of vista points overlook the Colorado River that runs through the INWR bordering the BLM and Yuma Proving Grounds about 20 miles north of Yuma, AZ.  We started out at the visitor's center and a short video about the refuge and what we might expect to see. Just outside the front door is a small enclosed area for their "Digger Tortoise" that lives near the foundation - he wasn't receiving visitors today, but we did see birds and lizards nearby.




Humming bird feeder and rogue bird










@ crossroad to
Red Cloud Mine Road and the viewing points.

One of the many lizards we did see today. 

The short video provides you with the view we had at Mesquite Point where we got out to view the marshes, birds and enjoy our lunch. (30 sec)

After a jaw jarring ride to our next stop - Painted Desert Foot Trail...a 1.3 mile loop through the Painted Desert - breathtaking!

Photos of our walk on the trail.

 

 Burro droppings mark the

        

                                                                                                                   beginnings or end of a trail...

We didn't see a Big Horn sheep today, however we have not given up on that search nor should you. Visit http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/arizona/Imperial/index.html to learn more about the refuge and desert and what it has to offer.
 
Hope to see you here soon.

Hiking to Palm Canyon

 Goal for today: Hike into Palm Canyon - approx. 1/2mi from Ten Ewe Mountain

Out on Hwy 95 at milepost 85 one can turn off the smooth, hard asphalt onto the graded, graveled and slightly rutted road, just wide enough for two cars to pass without touching while driving East toward the KOFA mountain range in the KOFA National Wildlife Refuge (established 1939 to protect the desert Big Horn Sheep - which we are in constant search of finding - to date we are still in search mode) along 7 miles to the parking lot at the trailhead. It is a beautiful day, deceiting as the Sun is out, but the wind is blowing at a good clip making for a chilly but sunny trek.



Palm Canyon lies within them there hills




the Sherpa prepares



Timing is everything - much later and the Palms would have been in the shadows





Looking West from the trail.




A lone palm tree in another crevice.

The trees are also known as California Palms - These palm trees are probably remnants from when this area was wetter and cooler than it is now. Though numbering less than 100, this handful of trees is among the only native palms in Arizona. http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=22570.

We went in around noon time, good thing too - much later and the shadows would have swallowed up the trees into darkness. As it was we caught sight of them just about the time we saw the following sign:

probably the result of too many late afternoon hikers missing the viewing period when the Sun shines directly into the crevices where they reside.

The 1/2 mi loop trail is a well marked-easy hike. There is no rest area or restroom facility...the nearest ones being approximately  22 miles to Quartzsite, and that's from the main highway. Plan accordingly and have a great time. We did.

Ciao!