Sign In
Free Newsletter
Recent Articles from Mike Miller
Arizona’s Initial Point
At Phoenix International Raceway near turn four, there is a hill often used for hillside seating that holds a little-known historical monument — a concrete cross that marks the point where almost all private parcels of land in Arizona are surveyed from.
Pioneer Days
For several decades, Arizonans held a grand, multi-day celebration of those who came to the territory before Dec. 31, 1890, called Pioneer Days.
Arizona’s cow-punchers
Arizona cowboys were often referred to as “cow-punchers,” with their styles of riding and dress made up from a mix of the traditions of Texas and California cowboys.
Times Past: Light’s Golden Jubilee
More than 7,000 Arizona residents celebrated “Light’s Golden Jubilee” in downtown Phoenix on Oct. 21, 1929. The more than five-hour celebration was considered “the greatest honor ever accorded an inventor during his lifetime.”
Times Past: Bob Burgunder, student murderer
As former Arizona State Teachers College student Bob Burgunder, Jr., sat on death row in Florence, he commented, “There’s too much free speech in this country. I think there’s too much education, too. I think we should stop educating the masses and educate only a few intelligent people.”
Spirit of the Biltmore
Charles McArthur, Warren McArthur, Jr. and Albert McArthur dreamed about and ultimately built a resort "where the great men and women of the earth would come and rest and play, where these visitors could live in luxury while they surveyed the unexcelled advantages of the Salt River Valley, and where investors in a hotel could realize satisfactory profits from their investments.
Times Past: Hotel Westward Ho
At the gala celebration for the opening of the newly constructed, $2.5 million ($29.6 million when adjusted for inflation), Hotel Westward Ho, recently elected Gov. John C. Phillips was asked to speak. He said, "I am not a great man and I have never done great things. With your friendship and cooperation and the assistance of Divine Providence, however, I sincerely hope that I will make you a good[...]
Buffalo Bill comes to Phoenix
William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody was born near Davenport, Iowa, on Feb. 26, 1846. In 1860, at age 14, he joined the Pony Express which advertised for “expert riders willing to risk death daily.” During the Civil War, he served as a scout and enlisted soldier, and at age 21 was hired by the Kansas Pacific Railroad to hunt buffalo that would be used to feed construction crews. In 17 months, he[...]
Al Sieber
When the great scout, Al Sieber, was killed in a construction accident near Roosevelt Dam, a headline read: "Famous scout who escaped a thousand deliberately aimed shafts of death, a victim of a mere accident." The irony of Al Sieber escaping decades of hard Arizona living was evident.
Guarding the castle
Montezuma Castle near Camp Verde is an enigma. The great Aztec chief Montezuma would never have seen the structure on the cliff walls. It certainly is not a castle, but merely secure living quarters for a long-gone people.
The Bankhead Highway
In 1922, there were 14,000 cars in Maricopa County with more than 8,000 cars being owned by Phoenix residents.
The prowl of the ‘Velvet Tigress’
Leading up to Halloween in 1939, Phoenix was enthralled with the first of several escapes by a female prisoner newspapers delighted in describing as the "Trunk Murderess," "Tiger Woman," "Blond Tigress," "Velvet Tigress" and "Mad Killer."
