Arizona has a rich and vibrant history that has also encompassed a significant amount of conflict and upheaval. As AZCentral notes, the clash of Spanish, Mexican and North American settlers in the state led to several battles, and the gold and silver rushes of the 1800s led to a glut of outlaw-lawmen clashes. Today, Arizona is known for its tech industry, real estate, governance and world class tourism, far away from its violent past, but there are plenty of sites that interested tourists can visit in order to gain an understanding of the history that made the state what it is today. Sometimes, those visits can have a distinctly grim edge to them.
The Apaches and tourism
Arizona has the third largest native American population of any state, and was a very active territory for indigenous tribes in the 1800s. This included inter-tribal warfare, especially as land became less available under pressure from western colonists. Because of this, tribes such as the Apache and Navajo often fought over territory. However, through the mid-19th to early-20th century, they did band together to fight against American colonisers.
The Flying “V” Cabin
Few events have defined the modern state of Arizona quite like the Pleasant Valley War. A family feud and, eventually, bloody conflict, stemming from the introduction of sheep into the Pleasant Valley, had a long impact on the formation of Arizona as a state. Today, visitors can make their way to the Flying “V” Cabin, once located in Phoenix but now reconstructed at the Pioneer Living History Museum, to see its history. The story, published in the Adin Argus back in 1936, has become legendary.
The feud saw the near-total death of two families. Between 35 and 50 people died – all in pursuit of land rights, and in the absence of proper legal control and mediation of the area. Ultimately, the conflict was for profit; both families came from fairly well-off backgrounds, the result of hard work, yet desired for more. It’s a lesson in the importance of restraint.
A modern touch
Arizona’s modern history is also defined by its use by the military. There are seven bases across the state, according to MilitaryBases.com, including the gigantic Barry M Goldwater air force range, used for live bombing drills. In addition to this, Arizona hosts the Titan Missile Museum, which MatadorNetwork.com notes houses an inert Titan II nuclear ICBM. A chilling site, it gives a very direct view into the inner workings of the US nuclear response network, and is a reminder of another of the human race’s 21st century excesses.
Arizona is a peaceful state today, marked by a cosmopolitan people and the advancement of tourism and science. Historically, however, the state was defined in battle. That’s visible today through dark tourism – just be sensitive, and take away the real lessons of history.
