Light Engine

We are off East Marsh Station Road in Davidson Canyon, near Vail, Arizona—southeast of Tucson by thirty miles. A lone locomotive, running eastward, is on the former Southern Pacific line where the former El Paso and Southwestern Railroad flies overhead.

As stated in the previous post (with Sunset Limited), the EP&SW came through here in 1911 or so while the SP was built in 1880. The younger road would be purchased by the Southern Pacific in 1924 and fully absorbed into its system in 1955.

[Note: my two posts at this location are out of order: this light engine actually surprised me and rolled by just prior to that of the Sunset Limited.]

Also mentioned in the previous post: in addition to the two railroads here, an historical marker states that the adjacent Cienega Bridge (not pictured), built in 1921, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Land acknowledgement: O’odham Jewed, Sobaipuri, Tohono O’odham, Hohokam.

Picacho Peak State Park The first image shows the star attraction of the park: Picacho Peak. This wonderful locale can be found between Phoenix and Tucson.

And there is plenty more to see, including cacti blooming, as seen in the second image. The final image was taken at an abandoned restaurant at the exit one uses to get to the park.

I found a nice history of the park here.

Land acknowledgement: O’odham Jeweḍ, Sobaipuri, Akimel O’odham (Upper Pima), Tohono O’odham, Hohokam.

Sunset Limited We are off East Marsh Station Road in Davidson Canyon, near Vail, Arizona—southeast of Tucson by thirty miles. Amtrak’s Sunset Limited is on the former El Paso and Southwestern Railroad flying over the much older Southern Pacific. The EP&SW came through here in 1911 or so while the SP was built in 1880. The younger road would be purchased by the Southern Pacific in 1924 and fully absorbed into its system in 1955. In addition to the two railroads, an historical marker states that the adjacent Cienega Bridge (not pictured), built in 1921, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Land acknowledgement: O’odham Jewed, Sobaipuri, Tohono O’odham, Hohokam.

Eternally Lit Shrine

Just south of Patagonia, Arizona, one might run across this wondrous site: an eternally lit shrine.

The story goes that Juan Telles built the shrine for this wife, Juana. They lit a candle for their son (or several sons) who were off to World War II. It has continued to be cared for despite family members passing, or moving, on.

I'm not certain, but I believe the original shrine can be seen in the second image, with the little shrine up the stairs, built into a niche in the living rock. This trustworthy site has the complete story.

This is located approximately three miles south of Patagonia on Highway 82; Google Maps lists it as John Ward Ranch, Historical.

Land acknowledgement: O'odham Jewed, Sobaipuri, Opata, Tohono O'odham, Hohokam.

Mission San José de Tumacácori Sobaipuri Structures

Sobaipuri (a branch of the O’odham) Structures on the Grounds of the Mission San José de Tumacácori — Image by kenne

“The importance of any story is what is it trying to teach you. I’m O’odham, and I’ll always be O’odham, so these stories are a part of me. If I choose not to value my own culture, then I would have a conflict with who I am.” 

— Ron Geronimo, Tohono O’odham