November 2014
All Hat and No Cattle: The Language of the American West
Every day we use words and phrases whose roots lie in the American West. Words like “brand,” “maverick,” and “railroaded,” along with phrases like “climb down off your high horse” and “passing the buck” all grew out of the culture and experiences of those who resided west of the Mississippi. These creative words and phrases are poetic, descriptive and often quite humorous, like the saying “He’s got a ten-dollar Stetson on a five-cent head.” Ride shotgun with Renzi as he…
Find out more »January 2015
Monumental Places: Arizona’s National Parks and Monuments
Arizona is home to some of the crown jewels in America’s national park system, including Canyon de Chelly, Saguaro National Monument, and, of course, the Grand Canyon National Park. It also harbors lesser known treasures, such as Chiricahua National Monument, Hubbell Trading Post, and the recently added Agua Fria National Monument. Join McNamee in exploring the beauty and history of these natural treasures. Gregory McNamee is a writer, editor, photographer, and publisher. He is the author of thirty-six books…
Find out more »February 2015
In the Footsteps of Martha Summerhayes
In the 1870s a refined New England woman traveled with her lieutenant husband to the untamed Arizona Territory. Traveling in terrible conditions and initially horrified by the desert landscape, she eventually gave birth to the first Anglo child born at Fort Apache. Ultimately, Ms. Summerhayes came to love the starry nights, the clear air and the relative simplicity of life in Arizona. In fact, she wrote what is now a classic in Southwest literature, Vanished Arizona. Join Ranney as he…
Find out more »November 2015
Deceptions, Lies and Alibis
A killer camel, a tornado-riding con man, a dead dragon, and a naked horse thief are some of the characters in the quirky stories from Southwest history that Peach loves to share in his original cowboy poetry. Laugh at and learn from these very tall and mostly true tales, like how Arizona forfeited a seaport for beer, how nature foiled the perfect bank robbery and how a bobcat terrorized a tavern. Leave this presentation with a smile and a few…
Find out more »January 2016
Riding with the Duke: John Wayne in Arizona
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 this presentation, McNamee looks at the Duke’s long career in Arizona and the memories he left behind. Gregory McNamee is a writer, editor, photographer, and…
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