G. W. French (1820-1891)

Sedona Winds Retirement Center 405 Jacks Canyon Rd., Sedona, AZ, United States

Charles G. W. French, born 1820 in a small southeastern Massachusetts town, heeded the advice, "Go West, young man." Armed with letters of introduction from Daniel Webster and Benjamin R. Curtis, French arrived in California in 1851. Achieving recognition as a lawyer and legislator in Sacramento, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court […]

Free

The Food of Arizona: Many Cultures, Many Flavors

Sedona Winds Retirement Center 405 Jacks Canyon Rd., Sedona, AZ, United States

Consider the taco, that favorite treat, a staple of Mexican and Mexican American cooking and an old standby on an Arizonan’s plate. The corn in the tortilla comes from Mexico, the cheese from the Sahara, the lettuce from Egypt, the onion from Syria, the tomatoes from South America, the chicken from Indochina, and the beef […]

Free

A Most Colorful Character: The Life and Times of George W.P. Hunt, Arizona’s First Governor

Copper Queen Library 6 Main St., Bisbee, AZ, United States

Arizona has had its share of colorful politicians but none more so than George W. P. Hunt, Arizona’s first governor. From his birth in rural Missouri in 1859 to his death in Phoenix in 1934, Hunt was always the character. He was elected to office seven times, but declared the loser in his 1916 bid […]

Free

The Eagle and the Archaeologists: The Lindberghs’ 1929 Southwest Aerial Survey

Church of the Holy Nativity 1414 Easy Street, Payson, AZ, United States

Charles Lindbergh is best known for his famous 1927 flight across the Atlantic Ocean. But few realize that Lindbergh and his wife, Anne, played a brief but important role in archaeology. In 1929 they teamed up with noted archaeologist Alfred Kidder to conduct an unprecedented aerial photographic survey of Southwest prehistoric sites and geologic features […]

Free

This Land is Our Land: Early Women on the Arizona Frontier

Saddlebrooke Mountain Clubhouse 38759 South Mountain View Boulevard, Tucson, AZ, United States

Meet five early Arizona women who endured troubles and hardships during the territory’s early days, all of whom brought a unique perspective to the raw land. Apache warrior Lozen fought to hold onto land once freely roamed by her people. Larcena Pennington crawled down the Santa Rita Mountains after surviving captivity by the Apaches. Mary […]

Free

Arizona Tourism from Stagecoaches to Kayaks

Copper Queen Library 6 Main St., Bisbee, AZ, United States

Ever since the Grand Canyon became grand, tourists have been flocking to Arizona to see the sights and experience the unique landscape and indigenous cultures. This presentation covers the whole state over more than a century. From 1880s Grand Canyon stagecoach and mule rides, the Fred Harvey railroad era (Harvey Girls and Indian Detours), auto […]

Free

Honky Tonks, Brothels and Mining Camps: Entertainment in Old Arizona

Phippen Museum 4701 U.S. HWY 89N, Prescott, AZ, United States

In pioneer Arizona, among the best places to experience the performing arts were in the mining towns. Striking it rich meant having disposable income and miners, like the well-heeled of the Gilded Age, wanted to demonstrate their sophistication with culture. From the early popular music of ragtime and minstrelsy evolved orchestras, operas and glee clubs […]

Free

Riding with the Duke: John Wayne in Arizona

Mohave County Library Bullhead City 1170 E. Hancock Dr, Bullhead City , AZ

John Wayne was born in Iowa and lived for most of his adult life in California. Yet, he spent many years exploring, living, and investing in Arizona, where he produced his own films, raised cattle, operated a game ranch, and was seemingly everywhere at once. Wayne remains an iconic presence in American popular culture. In […]

Free

Taking Your Father to a Nazi Camp: German Family Memories of War and Holocaust

Church of the Red Rocks - Painted Cliffs Hall 54 Bowstring Drive, Sedona, AZ, United States

A more personalized talk on the effects of the Holocaust and war on German society, family and German post-war generations. It begins with the story the presenter’s family (including his father’s war experience as a 17-year old German soldier, in the vicinity of a Jewish slave labor camp in Poland), addresses more general themes in […]

Free

Reading, Writing, and Fun with Polly and the Peaputts

Patagonia Public Library 346 Duquesne, Patagonia, AZ, United States

Welcome to Peaputt Place! Come meet Polly, her family, and friends. See how Polly and the Peaputts live, love, learn, and smile. In this three part book series, see how Polly and her friends work on acceptance, forgiveness, cooperation, inclusion, and many more constructive interactions. Participants will have opportunities to explore language understanding through five […]

Free

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