Northern Arizona State Teachers College - La Cuesta Yearbook (Flagstaff, AZ)

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GRAND CANYON OF THE COLORADO One Hundred Sixty-Five

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the best Normal schools in the west, enrolling as high as 1,000 students. The handsome buildings make the school an asset of considerable importance to the city. Flagstaff is also head- quarters for the Arizona State University summer school. Lowell Observatory, another institution of research and learning, is also located at Flagstaff. The fame of Lowell Observatory is world wide. It was founded by the late Per- cival Lowell of Boston, who before his death, a little over seven years ago, made provision for its maintenance under the direction of his widow, Mrs. Constance Lowell, and Dr. V. M. Slipher, himself an astronomer of note, and a staff of able assistant astronomers. A Bottomless Pits The pits are crevices in the lava underlying the surface. In the rainy season, water daily pours into these pits. It has never been discovered where the water comes to the surface again, but it is probably miles away. ' The Petrified Forest A day's auto ride from Flagstaff, is this vast prostrate for- est of colored stone. Perhaps there was a great' flood, which uprooted these mighty giants. Perhaps this flood and subse- quent ones washed down upon the recumbent giants of the forest, the various minerals which slowly transformed them from wood to stone. These are the petrified remains of the Norfolk Island pine, now extinct, which grew to a height of 150 feet and 12 feet or more in diameter. ' Prehistoric Cliff Dwellings These are located in Walnut Canyon about eight miles from Flagstaff. The dwellings consist of built up front walls clos- ing in natural recesses in the cliffs with an overhanging cliff for a roof. The sightseer who is fortunate enough to possess the gift of imagination, will revel in the opportunity for study these dwellings of our ancient people offer. Sunset Mountain and Lava Beds This extinct volcano well deserves its name. No matter at what hour of the day it is seen, or in what weather, it appears to be flooded in sunshine. It stands like a flaming torch or beacon above the dark country surrounding it. To the ob- server it is always sunset on this peak. At the foot of the mountain are huge caves, their walls solid ice the year round. The vast bed of lava extending in every direction from the foot of Sunset mountain is deemed by many to be the most remarkable sight of all-vast, incredibly rough, bare, impos- sible. g s Oak Creek Canyon Oak Creek Canyon is one of the beauty spots of Arizona. It is beautifully clothed in green trees, grasses and flowers. The trail extends four miles to Lolomai lodge, on the bank of a beautiful mountain stream. Trout fishing in Oak Creek Can- yon is very good. This canyon is the scene of Zane Grey's story, The Call of the Canyon. The story was filmed here last summer by the Famous Players-Lasky corporation. One Hundred Sixty-Four

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Other Scenic Points Flagstaff is the starting point for a tour of the Indian coun- try. From here one can easily reach Hopiland where the fa- mous Snake Dance is annually held. One may also travel from here to the Navajo country and visit the Indian schools at Tuba City and Leupp. Passing through scenic wonders at all times, one may journey to Red Lake, Kayenta and Marsh Pass. A few hours ride by auto takes one through Schulz Pass, where the city of Flagstaff is contemplating building a huge dam impounding in the canyon 150,000,000 gallons of water for use by the people of Flagstaff. The Rocky Mountain Boulevard company is now building a scenic road to the San Francisco Peaks and one can now travel by auto on this road for a considerable distance. To the east of Flagstaff is Canyon Padre and Canyon Diablo and many other scenic wonders. The Grand Canyon In ,attempting to describe this awe-inspiring wonder, humble words are far too inadequate. The theme is too great and too elusive. The Grand Canyon is the most n-oted scenic feature in North America, if not in the world. It is about 80 miles from Flagstaff and an excellent auto road makes the trip possible in one day. Montezuma Castle and Well The castle is situated on the right bank of Beaver Creek. It is five stories high and is built of cedar timbers. A few miles north is the well, a natural tank occupying the center of a low mesa. The water in it never changes its level. Mormon Lake and Lake Mary Mormon Lake is 29 miles from Flagstaff. It is a beautiful body of water filled with bass and perch-a sportsman's para- dise offering duck and turkey shooting, and larger game. Lake Mary is nine miles away and has splendid fishing. The Painted Desert It is painted in a profusion of colors, everywhere patches of blue, red, green, orange, lake, violet, yellow, pink-every color known to man. It has been described as Nature's Pal- ette, on which the Great Artist mixes the colors wherewith He paints the sunset, the sea, the storm and the rainbow. The Spaniards named it the bad lands. The Grand Falls of the Little Colorado The Little Colorado river plunges over a precipice 125 feet high and 400 feet wide. The falls, the cottonwood lined shores of the river above it, and the canyon through which the river courses on its way to join the main Colorado river, are beau- tiful. Tolchaco, an interesting trading post, is a short dis- tance from the falls. , The Natural, Bridge The bridge is 128 feet above the creek at one end and 150 feet at the other. The opening beneath the bridge is 140 feet wide and 400 feet long. The thickness of the arch. is 75 feet. One Hundred Sixty-Six