Arrowhead Trail 1914-1924

Las Vegas promoters claimed to be the originators of this all-weather route between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. From the beginning, the Arrowhead Trail was a “grass roots” effort, including promotion by the various Chambers of Commerce and volunteer construction by local citizens. However, it was Charles H. Bigelow, from Los Angeles, who gave the trail publicity. During 1915 and 1916 he drove the entire route many times in his Twin-Six Packard he named “Cactus Kate.”

The trail, which extends near here, was built in 1915 and completed the section between St. Thomas and Las Vegas. In its day it denoted a milestone of progress.

Nevada State Historic Marker #168

Nevada’s First State Park

This park, situated on the old Arrowhead Trail, was designated on March 26, 1935 as Boulder Dam-Valley of Fire State Park.

Though four state parks were established by concurrent legislation, Valley of Fire is considered Nevada’s first State Park as it was dedicated prematurely on Easter Sunday, 1934.

Thomas W. Miller of Reno (Overton-Caliente) led the move to establish Nevada’s State Park System. He was appointed in 1935 as the first Park Commission Chairman.

Recognized nationally for its outstanding scenic, geologic, and archeological features, 8,760 acres were patented to the State in 1931 as a State Exchange Grant.

Civilian Conservation Corp companies initiated park development in 1933.

Nevada State Historic Marker #150

The Journey of the Dead Man

Early Spanish traders named the fifty-five dry miles separating Las Vegas and the Muddy River the Jornada del Muerto (Journey of the Dead Man). The longest stretch without water along the Old Spanish Trail was littered with the skeletons of animals and parts of wagons abandoned along the sandy desert. Most experienced travelers made the trip at night.

John C. Fremont crossed the Jornada in 1844 and commented: “We ate the barrel cactus and moistened our mouths with the acid if the sour dock. Hourly expecting to find water, we continued to press on to midnight, when after a hard and uninterrupted march of 16 hours, our wild mules began running ahead; and in a mile or two we came to a bold running stream (the Muddy River).”

Nevada State Historic Marker #139

Delta Center, Salt Lake Ice Center, EnergySolutions Arena, Vivint Smart Home Arena

Opened in 1991, this popular Utah arena was known as the Delta Center, under a naming rights deal with Delta Air Lines, which has a hub at Salt Lake City International Airport. Salt Lake City-based EnergySolutions purchased the naming rights in November 2006, after Delta decided not to renew their 15-year contract due to filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy the year prior. From 2006 to 2015, it was known as EnergySolutions Arena. On October 26, 2015, the arena was renamed as part of a 10-year naming rights contract with the Provo-based home security system provider Vivint.

John Ashworth House (155 S. 200 West)

The John Ashworth House at 115 S. 200 West in Beaver, Utah was built in 1875. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The listing include four contributing buildings.

It was built for John Ashworth, who was born in England and who was the first manager-superintendent of the Beaver Woolen Mills, and who also served as Beaver’s second mayor, during 1880-82.

It was deemed “significant because it is an interesting combination of two of the most popular house types in Beaver during the 1875-1890 period, namely, the Hall & Parlor (north section) and the Cross-wing (south section) types. This marriage of house designs produces an interesting effect, for while the house is perfectly consistent with house planning principles found during this period of Beaver’s history, it also becomes at once a house which is both common (the Hall & Parlor house with rear extension) and rare (the double cross-wing or H-plan). For a further discussion of the double cross-wing house in Utah, see the nomination form for the Charles E. Davies house, Provo, Utah (National Register listing January 1983).”

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• John Ashworth House (110 S. 100 West)

John Ashworth House (110 S. 100 West)

The John Ashworth House at 1105 S. 1st West in Beaver, Utah is a historic house. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

It is a hall and parlor plan house with a shed extension to the rear, built in 1880. It was built by John Ashworth, then mayor of Beaver, probably for William Ashworth, one of his sons. John Ashworth lived in the large house to the east on the same block, the John Ashworth House (200 West, Beaver, Utah), also NRHP-listed.

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• John Ashworth House (155 S. 200 West)

Whenever I fly into and out of Oakland International I see Going Away, Coming Home, an art project of flying cranes by Hung Liu.

There is nothing that involves only going without returning. It is the nature of Heaven and Earth. When there is going, there also must be returning. – I Ching

Hung Liu is an Oakland artist whose work is exhibited widely in the United States and Asia. A California resident for 20 years, she was born and reared in China, coming of age during the Great Proletariat Cultural Revolution. In many ways, Going Away, Coming Home, Liu’s first major effort in glass, can be seen as emblematic of her history as a Chinese immigrant and her focus as a contemporary artist.

Many of the images encompassed in the window reference potent symbols of Asian culture. The red-crowned crane – the second rarest crane species in the world – has been a Chinese symbol of peace, purity, wisdom, fidelity, prosperity and longevity for centuries. In China, the color red (present in the crane’s bright crown) is considered to bring good luck and is a sacred, vital color used to express joy and as a talisman against evil. The circles represent the universe and eternity and indicate endlessness, emptiness and wholeness, all at the same time.

Known for her innovative use of historical materials, Liu’s placement of the cranes is directly influenced by the 12th century Chinese painting, Auspicious Cranes. Dating from the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127), the hanging scroll painted by Emperor Huizong depicts 20 cranes flying over the roof of his palace, bringing the blessings of peace and prosperity to his dwelling. Nine centuries later, Lui extends this metaphor to include safe travel by incorporating 20 flying cranes into each of the four window sections, in effect bringing 80 blessings to the travelers who pass by them.

Underlying Liu’s lyrical painting is a second layer of glass created from satellite photography. The map begins with a close up of the Bay Area and expands sequentially away from the Northern California coast to include the entire Asian Pacific region. Departing passengers experience an expansion of scale as they pass by. Returning passengers see the imagery reduce in dimension back toward the Bay Area, like the descent through the skies to come home to Oakland.

In Going Away, Coming Home, Hung Liu has masterfully combined Western technology with Chinese traditions to bring the blessings of peace, wisdom and prosperity to all.

Valley of Fire State Park

(*)Valley of Fire State Park is a public recreation and nature preservation area covering nearly 46,000 acres located 16 miles (26 km) south of Overton, Nevada. The state park derives its name from red sandstone formations, the Aztec Sandstone, which formed from shifting sand dunes 150 million years ago. These features, which are the centerpiece of the park’s attractions, often appear to be on fire when reflecting the sun’s rays. It is Nevada’s oldest state park, as commemorated with Nevada Historical Marker #150. It was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1968.

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• Arrowhead Trail 1914-1924
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• Nevada’s First State Park

Vine Street Antiques, Murray Arts Center and Wright Costume

These buildings in historic downtown Murray, Utah are in talks of being demolished. I don’t know if it’ll happen or not but I wanted to get some photos of them before just in case – just to document them.

I think they’re pretty cool looking.

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