Billy Butterfield
Travel back in history to the days of Gunfighters, Apaches, Silver and Copper mines, where legends abound and facts and fiction intertwine. Start your trip at the base of the 30 million year old Supersition Mountains, the beginning of this fascinating journey, along the old West Highway, that starts at Apache Junction.
The first Legend - Somewhere among the forbidden peaks of Superstition mountain is hidden Jacob Waltz's " Lost Dutchman's Mine", a fantastic gold mine dating back to 1540 and the Spanish Conquistadors. Fact - the Apache Indians knew about the mine and guarded it, they believed it was a gift from the gods and they also feared the "thunder God" who they believed lived in the mountain. Fact - starting in 1540 and continuing over the centuries, many men have searched for the mine, most have lost their lives to Apache attacks and some to the spirits of those who came before seeking the mine. Fact -In 1871 two German adventurers came to the new world to find the gold mine, because of their way of speaking they were dubbed "Dutchmen". They spent many years looking for the gold mine and some say they found it as they always had gold ore to spend. After many years one of the men disappeared, many say his partner Jacob Waltz did him in. Waltz lived until 1891, he never told anyone where the mine was, since then many people have come to Superstition mountain to find Waltz's gold mine, none have to date.
Apache Junction is also the entrance to the Apache Trail, a 44 mile journey into the past, whose attractions include - The Goldfield Ghost Town where visits can be made to historic Mammoth Gold Mine or take a ride on Arizona's only narrow gauge train; take a cruise on Dolly's Steamboat on Canyon Lake; see Roosevelt Lake and Dam, the world's highest masonary dam; and visit Tonto National Monument, a 14th century Indian Cliff dwelling.
Returning to Highway 60, with its rugges scenery, it passes the Silver King Mine once, a favourite of the legendary gunfighters - Bat masterson, Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday, as well as the desperados such as The Clanton Gang, the Apache Kid and the only known female stage coach robber - Pearl Hart. Among the many attractions in this area is Apache Leap, where it is said 75 brave Apache Warriors leap to their death rather than surrender to US Army Forces. When the silver ran out, the real mining began, in Superior Arizona legend says was the largest Copper Mine located underground, in what is now the inactive Magma Mine.
Here Highway 60 becomes Highway 70 as it continues thru Globe, which dates back to 1875 as a mining camp, in the 1900's the Old Dominion Copper Company was ranked as one of the world's richest. Legend says it was linked to Geronimo, the Apache Kid and the Clanton brothers. Fact. There is lots of history to be found here and many of the old buildings dating from 1905 are still standing. Also near Globe is Besh-Ba-Gowath Archaoelogical Park with 700 years of Solada history.
Not far along legendary Highway 60 is San Carlos Apache Reservation where another short detour goes to San Carlos Lake, formed by the construction of the Coolidge Dam and rimmed by 158 miles of shoreline, then on to Thatcher and Safford with their elegant old homes and western history, Thatcher was founded in 1881 by members of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, and Safford was founded in 1874. Beyond them is the town of Bonita, where legend says Billy the Kid, killed his first man. His identity is filled with controversy as he was known by so many names, among them William Bonney, Kid Antrim and Henry McCarty the one he was given at birth - or so the legend says.
The Spanish explorer Coronado was probably the first European to travel this legendary highway in his search for the Seven Cities and their gold treasure. But as you can see, the real treasure turned out to be Copper and the towns of Clifton and Morenci, another detour off Highway 70, stand as monuments to this industry. Here can be seen the Phelps Dodge Mine where visitors can take a tour.
Lordsbury New Mexico is the end of the Old West Highway, but we still have one more legend to see - Shakespeare, once a stop on the Butterfield Stage Coach Line, it had no churches but proudly boasted of having over 30 saloons and the fearless gunmen who walked its streets seeking outlaws, such as Russian Bill, The Clanton gang and Billy the Kid - he did get around. Spend sometime, visit the many places of interest and listen to the legends and truths of the Wild Old West.
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