Tombstone Courthouse and Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate

November 8, 2024:

On Friday November 8th, I’m off  for a short road trip in my  van to Bisbee, Arizona for the Side Pony music festival which runs for three days from Friday November 8 through Sunday November 10th.  I had decided ahead of time that two full days will be enough excitement in Bisbee so I am doing something more historic minded on my first day.  

I begin with a stop in Tombstone where I visit the Tombstone Courthouse which is a State Historic Park.  The Courthouse was built in 1882 and served as the Cochise County seat for several years until it was relocated to Bisbee, Arizona.  The Courthouse was then mostly abandoned and fell into decay.  A local prominent town woman, Edna Landin took up the cause to save the building by appealing to people all over the country for donations to restore the Courthouse. This cause also helped to bring attention to the town of Tombstone and helped to create the tourist attraction that exists today.

I saw several historical items that I found interesting, way more interesting than the OK Corral and the other touristy crap that most people come to see. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombstone_Courthouse_State_Historic_Park 

Why does this sound familiar

The border has always been a problem

There is always someone to do the right thing

The first woman Attorney

A good drinking Judge 

The myth of the old west is relived here

This Saloon actually is the real deal

After leaving Tombstone I drive on route 82 to the Balance Ranch Road and to the trailhead for the Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate.  The Presidio was built on a bluff overlooking the San Pedro River as a Spanish military post in 1776.  It was part of a series of territorial defenses stretching from Louisiana to California to protect the frontier of New Spain.  From the beginning, this mission came under attack from the Apache Indians and they were unable to protect themselves.  As a result, the Mission was abandoned in 1780 and all that remains today are a few crumbling stone and adobe walls. There is a loop trail with interpretive signs on the history and what is in front of you.  There isn’t much to see however, but by looking at the signs and the surrounding terrain, you can appreciate the amazing effort required to build such a fort in this hostile secluded landscape and the constant deadly threat from the Apache raids.

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/presidio-santa-cruz-arizona/ 

The trail to the Presidio

The trail then goes up onto the old railroad bed  

On the abandoned railroad 

Remains of old cooking ovens

The remains of The Chapel

It looked something like this

Impressive Main Gate

After approximately five years it was all abandoned

  

Next, I drive a few miles back to the Fairbanks Historic Townsite.  It was once a prosperous town during the mining boom days, but was mostly abandoned when the mining ended.  All that remains today is a restored schoolhouse, now turned into a museum and a few other buildings.  This was once a railroad town, hard to believe now, but several railroad artifacts and history exhibits remain in the museum. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairbank,_Arizona

After leaving the museum, I take a trail to the old Fairbanks graveyard located on a hilltop, abandoned for decades with old wooden crosses laying over the graves, which are mostly unmarked with only a few primitive grave stones. 

One of the few graves with a marker

The fence is now barely standing up to the rigors of time

I then drive to the bustling city of Sierra Vista where I spend a cold night at the Walmart parking lot.  Sierra Vista has beautiful mountain views and a very historic old army base.  It's a fast growing city with shopping centers, restaurants, many stores and service amenities, but no actual downtown area, kind of boring to me, but many people prefer that.    

I get an early start the following morning and drive straight to Bisbee arriving about 10 AM where I go to weekly Saturday farmers market before the festival starts at noon time.  The Bisbee farmers market across from the historic baseball field in the new Bisbee townsite area.  It is a good one market with many food and craft vendors.

The reason for this trip, the 2024 Side Pony Festival is about to start for the day, stay tuned !