Papa and I drove to Miami, Arizona this morning, to deliver several photos that his Dad had taken many years ago, as a donation to Bullion Plaza Museum. We were in touch with long time family friends of Papa's, Peggy and Charlie, who met us at the Museum. Charlie and Papa's Dad worked together at Inspiration Copper Company for many years and their families shared a lot of time together. Peggy and Charlie gave us a tour of the Museum and Papa signed paperwork for the donation. We went to the El Rey for a delicious Mexican lunch afterward. We had a delightful time!
The Bullion Plaza Museum in Miami is located in the Bullion Plaza School, which opened in 1923 as a grammar school for Mexican and Apache students. It was desegregated in 1950 and operated as a school until 1994. The Museum opened in 2000. We were delighted to see the McKusick Tile Exhibit. We visited Mr. McKusick some 25+ years ago and have several of his handmade tiles. The Mining Room had wonderful large photos that gave a good sense of copper mining many years ago. The Mexican Cultural Exhibit is in a room with handpainted walls from the 1930's and full of local historic photographs. The Museum is very well done.
The 100 mile drive to and from Miami was beautiful. After lunch, we stopped to take photos of the open pit mines, which dominate the mountainous landscape of the Miami/Globe area. A truck pulled in front of us carrying several large copper anode slabs. Papa drove by his childhood home and we made a quick stop at El Capitan Pass. "This pass was used by Kearny's army of the west in a march to California in 1846. Guided by Kit Carson. It was described in a journal of the trip as "Carson's old trail". The pass led around the impassable canyon on the Gila river where Coolidge dam has now been constructed." We had many history lessons and reminders today. A good day!
The Bullion Plaza Museum in Miami is located in the Bullion Plaza School, which opened in 1923 as a grammar school for Mexican and Apache students. It was desegregated in 1950 and operated as a school until 1994. The Museum opened in 2000. We were delighted to see the McKusick Tile Exhibit. We visited Mr. McKusick some 25+ years ago and have several of his handmade tiles. The Mining Room had wonderful large photos that gave a good sense of copper mining many years ago. The Mexican Cultural Exhibit is in a room with handpainted walls from the 1930's and full of local historic photographs. The Museum is very well done.
The 100 mile drive to and from Miami was beautiful. After lunch, we stopped to take photos of the open pit mines, which dominate the mountainous landscape of the Miami/Globe area. A truck pulled in front of us carrying several large copper anode slabs. Papa drove by his childhood home and we made a quick stop at El Capitan Pass. "This pass was used by Kearny's army of the west in a march to California in 1846. Guided by Kit Carson. It was described in a journal of the trip as "Carson's old trail". The pass led around the impassable canyon on the Gila river where Coolidge dam has now been constructed." We had many history lessons and reminders today. A good day!
