Touring America's Parks with Shayne

  Since 2024, I have been interested in historic places that are on the National Register of Historic Places list for the USA.  On this post it is about the Arizona Inn located in Tucson, Arizona at 2200 E. Elm Street, 85719. Arizona Inn is a hotel that opened in the 1930 by Isabella Greenway, Arizona first congresswoman and lifelong friend of Eleanor Roosevelt.  Before the Inn there was The Arizona Hut, a philanthropic furniture shop. We looked at some of the rooms that you can see.  We lunch at the bar area, and it was very good.  It is beautiful in the courtyard. Restuarant Library Lobby Courtyard Garden A Historic Boutique Hotel Retreat in Tucson | Arizona Inn Here is the scrapbook layout for Arizona Inn.

  When my mom and me went to the Mission Garden located in Tucson, Arizona.  I found out that this is part of the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area. The Santa Cruz Valley NHA recognizes the rich history, natural and cultural resources and heritage of the Santa Cruz River watershed. Increase heritage and nature tourism Develop heritage education programs Riparian restoration Rehabilitation of historic buildings Improve the quality of life for residents by instilling a sense of place Other sites: Tubac Presidio State Historic Park Catalina State Park Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area (U.S. National Park Service)

 When my dad Bob and stepmom Meg lived up in Alaska, I would go up there to see them and we did different adventures.  On this adventure we went up to Chugach State Park located in Southcentral Alaska mostly with municipality of Anchorage - 18620 Seward Hwy, 99516.   We went up into the hills and picked blueberries for the day.  In the pictures that I have it looked like a nice day in Alaska. My dad and I walking up a trail. Meg and dad picking blueberries. Me just looking around. I do remember we had a couple of big bags of blueberries that we picked. Here is my scrapbook layout for this day. Chugach State Park

  Old Main, University of Arizona, originally known as the University of Arizona, School of Agriculture building was the first building constructed on the U of A campus. This building is one of the oldest surviving educational structures in the western United States. The construction of the Old Main began on October 27, 1887, and finished on October 1, 1891.  Old Main, then the only building on the campus contained the classrooms, library, offices and dorm.  Six faculty taught 32 students in 1891.

  This building on the University of Arizona campus located in Tucson, AZ.  This is Bear Down Gym, originally known as Men's Gymnasium.  It is a 300 seat multi-purpose arena.  It opened in 1926.  It was home to the University of Arizona Wildcats basketball team. Bear Down Gym is also famous for its inclusion in the 1984 film Revenge of the Nerds.  It was the gymnasium of the fictional "Addams College" and also temporary home to the Nerds after they were kicked out of their original freshman home.

This University is located in Tucson, AZ. This use to be the University of Arizona Old Library Building in the 1920's.  Now it is Arizona State Museum.  I know I have been there once before but don't remember.  It was closed for maintenance when we were that day.

In April 2025, my mom and me went to the Casa Grande Ruins NM located in Coolidge, AZ.  It has been a few years since I have been there. There are some exhibits to look at: Here is a sample of the layout of the building that were around in the 1200-1400. Here are somethings that they found at the ruins. This is called the "Great House."  It was a gathering place for people or a waypoint marker in an extensive of canals and trading partners.  Builders found building material underfoot: caliche, a concrete like mix of sand, clay and calcium carbonate limestone.  It took 3,000 tons to build the Great House.  Caliche mud was layered to form walls four feet thick at the base, tapering toward the hop.  Hundreds of juniper, pine and fir trees were carried or floated 60 miles down the Gila River to the village.  Anchored in the walls, the timbers formed ceiling or floor supports.  The roof might have saguaro ribs were laid across the beams, covered with r...

 On 4/17/2025, some friends and I went to a neon sign museum.  The place is called Ignite Sign Art Museum located in Tucson, AZ.  The museum opened in fall of 2018.  I never heard of this place until some other friends told us about it.  It was cool seeing all the signs that you saw in Tucson in earlier years.  It was a fun day to see history. It's one floor building and an outside area to look at the signs.  They also offer classes to learn to make a sign. There were a lot of restaurant signs, hotel/motel signs and shops.  Here is a few that I liked. This was one of the old Arby's signs that was located at Wetmore and Oracle.  When I saw it, I didn't realize how tall it was.  It was on a pole up high. One of the old Valley National Bank signs before it became Chase.  My stepdad used to work at this bank. This cowboy riding a horse sign was part of El Corral restaurant sign.  This is one of my favorite places to eat.  Best...

  This museum the Arizona Heritage Center is located in Tempe, AZ.  The heritage center is part of the Arizona Historical Society that is located in three towns in Arizona.  I have never been here before and I got some free passes from my dad. So, my mom and I decided to go up there. Has you can see in the picture it is a huge building.  There is a museum and big library that you can find a lot of info about Arizona history. Here are some things you can see at the museum. Barry Goldwater's Ham Radio Desk : Barry Goldwater was a lifelong ham radio enthusiast.  His civilian call sign was K7UGA and military call sign was AFA7UGA. Shaping Arizona : The exhibit highlights how the state of Arizona gained its current shape and how the influences us today.  The land and shape we know as Arizona was formed by different negotiations, violent disputes, agreements and purchases. There are two exhibits that talk about the  Desert Cities  and  WWII . This ...