The Most Courageous Arizona Journalist You’ve Never Heard Of

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

You can’t find Laura Nihell in the Arizona Archives, or any history book on early Arizona, or any chronicle of Arizona journalists—but she was not only there, she proved herself one of the most courageous journalists of territorial days. Laura owned the Copper Belt in Jerome from 1909 to 1912—in the midst of Arizona’s quest […]

On the Road Since 1925: The Colorful History of Arizona Highways Magazine

Florence Community Library 778 N. Main St., Florence, AZ, United States

The first issue of Arizona Highways magazine was published in April, 1925. In this presentation, former publisher Win Holden will share the fascinating story of how a brochure produced by the Arizona Highway Department evolved into one of the most respected and revered publications in the world. With annual economic impact of over $65 million, […]

“Hyenas in Petticoats”–How Women Struggled Against Every Dirty Trick in the Books to Win the Vote!

Prescott Public Library 215 E. Goodwin St., Prescott, AZ, United States

As we celebrate the 100th birthday of the 19th Amendment in 2020, it’s time to look back at the enormous effort it took for women to be granted full citizenship and the vote. History has downplayed suffrage, as if it were just a footnote in American history, when in fact, it was the nation’s largest […]

The Antiquity of Irrigation in the Southwest

Springerville Heritage Center 418 E. Main Stret, Springerville, AZ, United States

Before AD 1500, Native American cultures took advantage of southern Arizona’s long growing season and tackled its challenge of limited precipitation by developing the earliest and most extensive irrigation works in all of North America. Agriculture was introduced to Arizona more than 4,000 years before present, and irrigation systems were developed in our state at […]

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

Rim Country Museum 700 S Green Valley Pkwy, Payson, 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 during the forming of these communities, […]

For the Love of Turquoise

Apache Junction Library 1177 N. Idaho Rd., Apache Junction, AZ, United States

Turquoise has a long standing tradition amongst Native cultures of the Southwest, holding special significance and profound meanings to specific individual tribes. Even before the more contemporary tradition of combining silver with turquoise, cultures throughout the southwest used turquoise in necklaces, earrings, mosaics, fetishes, medicine pouches, and made bracelets of basketry stems lacquered with piñon […]

How We Survived Prohibition (100 Years Ago)

Florence Community Library 778 N. Main St., Florence, AZ, United States

Arizonans often didn’t play well with others where they’d lived before, and that made them well-suited to survive a society that (supposedly) didn’t serve alcohol. Hear some of the stories of how places you can still drink today made it through the speakeasy era… as well as what makes some of our other historic watering […]

Chiles & Chocolate: Sweet and Spicy Foods in the American West

Arizona Western College / Parker Learning Center 1109 Geronimo Avenue, Parker, AZ, United States

Come have a taste of the rich and savory history of these food favorites, explore how early peoples used them, and how they have evolved and spread to all corners of the world. Food is a portal into culture and can convey a range of cultural meaning including occasion, social status, ethnicity, and wealth depending […]

Impeachment: The U.S. Constitutional Process and How It Works

Coolidge Public Library 160 W. Central Avenue, Coolidge, AZ, United States

The U.S. Constitution set in place a process for removing from office elected and non-elective executive and judicial officers of the United States: that process is commonly called impeachment. It is a power of the national legislature, the Congress; and both the House of Representatives and the Senate play roles, separately but in coordination. On […]

Theodore Roosevelt Slept Here

Salazar-Ajo Library 15 W. Plaza St. #179, Ajo, AZ, United States

Theodore Roosevelt exhibited a greater influence on Arizona than perhaps any other president. He was the first sitting president to visit Arizona, employed an executive order to preserve the Grand Canyon, established a variety of wildlife refuges and reclamation projects, and enjoyed outdoor recreation in the area. This program will share Roosevelt’s widespread influence in […]

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