After lunch at Skull Valley Café Tuesday, Ron and I went for a ride to Bagdad, not in Iraq.
Along Arizona Highway 96 between Kirkland and Hillside
The drive through Thompson Valley surrounded by the McCloud Mountains took us past massive boulders of well worn granite plutons and a diverse desert landscape.
One story of how Bagdad got its name centers around a father and son team of 1800s miners when the ore was hauled out on mule teams in bags. The son would be mining, filling the bags with ore while the father would be preparing to transport the ore. When the son needed another bag to fill, he would yell, “bag Dad”.
The plaque reads, “In honor of the men and women in mining who helped to build our past and are molding our future. Cyprus Bagdad Copper Corporation. WC Rubottom sculptor. Welded copper rod 10.5 feet and 8.5 feet. July 4, 1989.” Bagdad is a company owned town.
Along Arizona Highway 97
We didn’t see much wildlife other than Red tail hawks too far away for my camera.
Lupine
Yet the desert shows a green carpet and blooms of life after a moist winter.
Desert Poppy
We took a short side trip on a gravel road towards Burro Creek Recreation Area, yet the day was waning so we left further explorations for another day.
The road to Burrow Creek
Supposedly, the area was named after a large population of burros discovered by Army officers in 1869. They were probably left behind by prospectors.
Along Arizona Highway 96 between Kirkland and Hillside
The drive through Thompson Valley surrounded by the McCloud Mountains took us past massive boulders of well worn granite plutons and a diverse desert landscape.
One story of how Bagdad got its name centers around a father and son team of 1800s miners when the ore was hauled out on mule teams in bags. The son would be mining, filling the bags with ore while the father would be preparing to transport the ore. When the son needed another bag to fill, he would yell, “bag Dad”.
The plaque reads, “In honor of the men and women in mining who helped to build our past and are molding our future. Cyprus Bagdad Copper Corporation. WC Rubottom sculptor. Welded copper rod 10.5 feet and 8.5 feet. July 4, 1989.” Bagdad is a company owned town.
Along Arizona Highway 97
We didn’t see much wildlife other than Red tail hawks too far away for my camera.
Lupine
Yet the desert shows a green carpet and blooms of life after a moist winter.
Desert Poppy
We took a short side trip on a gravel road towards Burro Creek Recreation Area, yet the day was waning so we left further explorations for another day.
The road to Burrow Creek
Supposedly, the area was named after a large population of burros discovered by Army officers in 1869. They were probably left behind by prospectors.
Wow, a lupine in the dessert!? They are native to Canada’s east coast too – a very different climate from Arizona.
I like that Monument. It has quite the different style and form to it.It would be nice to see more creative art in the world. Hopefully, communities will see the importance of expressing themselves on new levels.
I didn’t know there was a Bagdad AZ. I agree with Natural Moments, that copper sculpture is unusual and expressive. I hope the artwork is secured somehow as copper plumbing and sculptures are being ripped off here. I like the wildflowers you found.
I hereby nominate this blog for the Lemonade Award! Details are on my blog.
A lovely story on how it got its name Gaelyn. I have always been fascinated with the contasts of Arizona and never get tired of seeing pics of my favorite state.
I wonder if there are still Burrows in the area? It looks like a good days explorations. Lovely flowers.
I am so enjoying my trip with you, thank you for tagging me along.
Thanks for another trip…and another idea of where to go when Traveling in our RV.
The explanation of the town’s name is funny.
I always love finding wildflowers in the desert. They’re so unexpected, and that makes them even more of a delight.
Re: cowboy cave, it doesn’t extend more than a hundred feet or so into the mountain, and most of it gets at least some natural light. That made it handy for a dwelling, but not a place sought after by spelunkers!
One of my best friends was born and raised in Bagdad, AZ! We worked together at Ft. Whipple VA Center in Prescott. I love the spring blooms in the desert – it’s my favorite time of year there. I love the story of how Bagdad got its name and that statue is really cool too.
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You are making me aware of places in AZ I have never heard of! That’s a silly joke by the way: “Bag Dad!”
Discovered your blog from Natural Moments at walking in stillness. The energy that resonates from Arizona is intense and renewing. Bagdad story encourages human beings to step outside comfort zones and look deeper, beneath the rock of their own psyche.
I so enjoyed those shots of the wide open sky; and what a brewing storm? I hope it had rain in it. Are your wildflowers out already?