Chiricahua National Monument in SE Arizona has never been known as a “Crown Jewel” in the Park System. Yet it is rich in natural and historical resources — an onion deep with cultural layers intimately connected to and dependent upon phantasmagorical rock formations and a small, well-watered valley. This cultural landscape contains stories of pre-contact […]

During WWII a select group of young Navajo men enlisted in the Marines with a unique weapon. Using the Navajo language, they devised a secret code that the enemy never deciphered.  For over 40 years a cloak of secrecy hung over the Code Talker’s service until the code was declassified and they were finally honored […]

Although World War I occurred a century ago, its effects are still evident in the Middle East today. The war left memories of suffering and brought about new political realities. The Ottoman Empire ended, and new states were created, yet the peace settlements left many Middle Eastern people dissatisfied. The post-war treaties left millions of […]

Have you ever believed in a street? That’s right, a real belief in what a street stands for in the midst of a bustling city. Many recall the heyday of Van Buren Street, linking Arizona, California and New Mexico, the only highway known in the early 1900’s. Neon lights, bright, colorful lodges, hotels and motels, […]

Similar to NPR's "A Prairie Home Companion" but with and Arizona twist, this program uses music, storytelling and live radio-style newscasts to present important but often neglected events in Arizona history. The "Hoosiers"-like story of a Miami, AZ High School basketball team comprised of the sons of Mexican-American mine workers who won the state championship […]

Where lies the cure to diabetes? “Ask the prickly pear, or the mesquite bean pod...maybe they will tell you.” This is the answer you may hear from elder instructors of the Hualapai Ethnobotany Youth Project. The ethnobotanical story of the Hualapai Tribe  begins with the plant knowledge the people have inherited from their great grandparents […]

If a picture is worth a thousand words, this program could fill a seven-volume history of Arizona. From the geological wonders of the Grand Canyon and the Petrified Forest to cutting-edge biotech industries and Native American art galleries, this whirlwind pictorial history tour of Arizona from prehistory to the present shows it all. In addition […]

The lecture will focus on the highlights of the solo post-Beatles careers of John, Paul, George and Ringo.   We will explore the aftermath of The Beatles legacy and how they established themselves as solo artists.  Our journey will also discuss their musical collaborations with each other on many of their solo projects.  This lecture will […]

The men who explored Arizona are legends in the history of the region and of anthropology, but what about the women who accompanied them or explored by themselves?  Did you know that Matilda Coxe Stevenson was a member of the first official government survey of Canyon de Chelly or that Emma Mindeleff surveyed ruins in […]

In 1937, a group of CalTech geology professors and hardy boatmen set out in small wooden boats on a 6 week journey through the Grand Canyon to study the ancient rocks of the canyon’s Inner Gorge.  At the time, fewer than a dozen river parties had successfully run the canyon – often with a loss […]

This session examines a chronological historic account of the lives, works and influence of The Beatles on contemporary society.  We will discuss their phenomenal achievements from a musical and cultural perspective.  The lecture will be enhanced with visual backgrounds and audio clips.  Our historic journey starts from their early days as a cover band in […]

Springs are ecosystems that occur where groundwater reaches the Earth’s surface. Springs are generally small but are significant hotspots of biological and cultural diversity. In this talk, we will explore the great diversity of life forms that occupy Arizona springs, including rare plants, strange insects, and the remarkable group of Arizona fish, reptiles, birds, and […]

What is Día de los Muertos? Where did it come from, what are its roots? How do we celebrate it here in the U.S.? Día los Muertos or Days of the Dead is a significant and highly celebrated holiday in Mexico, Latin America, and Southwestern U.S. To understand Día de los Muertos one has to […]

During WWII a select group of young Navajo men enlisted in the Marines with a unique weapon. Using the Navajo language, they devised a secret code that the enemy never deciphered.  For over 40 years a cloak of secrecy hung over the Code Talker’s service until the code was declassified and they were finally honored […]

This session examines a chronological historic account of the lives, works and influence of The Beatles on contemporary society.  We will discuss their phenomenal achievements from a musical and cultural perspective.  The lecture will be enhanced with visual backgrounds and audio clips.  Our historic journey starts from their early days as a cover band in […]

During the Depression the Federal Writers Project conducted interviews with over 144 women who arrived in the Territory between 1850 and 1890. The women spoke of their long and dangerous journeys, and with their words paint pictures of the hardships and life threatening situations of their frontier existence. Through hard work, dedication, tenacity and humor […]

This lecture will focus on the rise of the British pop and rock acts that invaded our shores in the 60’s. From pop groups (The Beatles, The Dave Clark 5, Kinks) to the psychedelic and progressive bands (The Who, Pink Floyd, Cream), we will explore highlights from landmark recordings that clearly defined this British pop […]

U.S. Route 66, known as the “Mother Road,” was built in 1926. It ran from Chicago to L. A. During the depression of the 1930s, it became the major path by which people migrated west, seeking work, warm weather and new opportunities. Shore shares the history of Route 66 in Arizona, including the impact it […]

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 […]

Drama was a key tool in communicating and understanding some of the more earth shattering discoveries and ideas in the realm of science.  Some scientists have used the genre of drama to communicate their theories and observations in order to avoid persecution and imprisonment.  Such was the case with Galileo.  Yet, he was not the […]

After the tragedy of the Holocaust, the Jewish population in Eastern Europe was nearly extinguished.  However, since the collapse of Communism, there has been a small, yet significant revival of Jewish life in several countries.  For the first time in generations, young Jews are free to practice their faith without the fear of government interference […]

Written in Thread: Arizona Women’s History preserved in their Quilts traces the history of Arizona through women who recorded pieces of their lives in their needlework.  The colorful patterns of women’s quilts added a spot of brightness to their homes and their lives. They also celebrated and recorded special events with their quilts. Beginning with […]