Since it was more or less on my route, I stopped in Prescott for a couple days. Prescott is a nice town, with an estimated population around 45,000. However, including suburbs brings the population to more than 100,000. I first visited the town in 2006 and enjoyed both its history and its location in the midst of a huge field of granite.
According to geologists, the large concentration of granite formed some 1.4 billion years ago, one to two miles beneath earth's surface. What with continental drift, tectonic plates colliding to produce uplift, enormous lakes draining and general erosion, the granite was gradually exposed. Because the granite is very coarse, it weathers more readily than finer grained stone. Every crack or fault line became rounded due to weathering. I've seen this effect at other places, such as City of Rocks in New Mexico, but the volume around Prescott is unusual.
One parcel, known as Granite Dells, lies five miles north of town and includes two man-made reservoirs, Watson Lake and Willow Lake. The Dells are very popular for hiking, biking, rock climbing and photography.
Some very nice residential neighborhoods have been developed in and around the giant boulders. In some homes, boulders have been incorporated within the structure, serving as part of the walls. In addition to the Dells, several mesas and buttes have also been the scene of residential development. Building on the granite provides a 'rock solid" foundation and natural landscaping, but has one big disadvantage. The granite fields are full of uranium, so radon gas is a concern. I assume the law requires testing for radon and mitigation where appropriate.
With such a large quantity of stone in the area, it stands to reason that Indians left their mark in the form of petroglyhs. In fact, there are quite a few documented sites around. I went to just one that happens to be in a high-elevation neighborhood.
My time in Prescott coincided with the partial re-opening of many businesses, particularly restaurants. Since I had not eaten out for a couple months, I jumped at the opportunity and went to the Palace Saloon. This historic saloon and restaurant is located on "Whiskey Row" where so many saloons were established in the early days of the town, when Doc Holiday, Big Nose Kate and Virgil Earp were citizens. The palace was built in 1877, but burned down in 1900 along with other buildings in town. Customers at the time of the fire removed the large and ornate bar, taking it across the street to Courthouse Square where they continued to drink and watch the fire rage. The Palace was re-built in 1901, with its original bar, and is now the oldest saloon in Arizona. I regret not getting photos.
That same evening, many townspeople were out, walking the streets, window shopping and generally enjoying their new freedom from being shut in. Courthouse Square was particularly active.
One of the statues on the square is one of Prescott's heroes, a man named Bucky O'Neill. Bucky was once sheriff, then mayor, then persuaded by Teddy Roosevelt to join the Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War. Bucky thought it unseemly for officers to hide from enemy fire, so was killed while in the open, exhorting his command moments before they stormed up San Juan Hill. The statue was sculpted by Solon Hannibal Borglum, brother of the man who created Mount Rushmore and is considered the first "cowboy sculptor".
So, I arrived back in Sierra Vista and have no immediate plans for travel. Lots to do and enjoy around here, especially as it relates to my new home. I'm reminded of one reason I like this area, namely the frequent spectacular sunsets and sunrises. Tonight's sunset was certainly a case in point.
