Picacho Peak State ParkMar 16, 2008
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We are headed to that peak - and yes, its raining here...
Camped out at the base of Picacho Peak.
View back from the patio - that's Highway 10 off in the...
| For years Ken and I have travelled across Highway 10 in Arizona. Just east of Casa Grande is an Arizona State park called Picacho Peak. We've never stopped and had always told ourselves if we ever had to opportunity to stay here we would. Well, today is the day. We plan on doing some exploring of this very interesting looking peak tomorrow. We will, of course, pass on anything of interest we may learn! First of all, the name. Picacho is the Spanish word for Peak, so the park name is redundant. It translates into Peak Peak. The area north, of the peak which is now Interstate 10, has been used by explorers, miners, wagon trains, stage coaches and the Southern Pacific railroad. The peak has long been a landmark and was first commented on in the journals of Father Kino in the 1600's. During the 1860's the town of Tucson, which is about 40 miles east of Picacho Peak, maintained a military fort. The soldiers were needed to protect settlers from attacking Apache indians. At the outbreak of the Civil War the fort was abandonded when the soldiers headed east to join either the Union or Confederate forces. After this abandonment Tucson was briefly occupied by Confederate troops. In April of 1862 a skirmish occured between a small group of Confederate and Union troops in the area of Picacho Peak. Three Union soldiers were killed. This skirmish is recreated every March at the State Park, in fact we just missed it. Some historians believe that this is the Westernmost conflict of the Civil War. Tuscson was abandonded by the Confederate troops and in February of 1863 Arizona was designated a federal territory. We are glad that we finally had a chance to stop and find out what this park has to offer. We can now 'take it off the list' of places to visit. We are headed to Tucson in the morning - updates to follow! |
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