Secret Tucson: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

by Clark Norton

Overview

What onetime New York crime boss spent his last decades in Tucson? Which cutting-edge scientific lab is hidden below a football stadium here? Why does the Beatles’ classic song “Get Back” include a nod to Tucson? And what on earth is a “stravenue?” To find the answers to some of the most intriguing and entertaining questions about Tucson, look no further than Secret Tucson: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. You’ll learn all about the lesser-known sides to southern Arizona’s most dynamic city. After all, Tucson has been proclaimed “the world capital of weird”—and Tucsonans take that as a compliment. So if you’ve ever found yourself wondering where Bill Clinton wolfed down a five-combo plate of Mexican food, where Hollywood stars go to seek secluded rehab in the desert, or even where you might stumble upon a fabulously rich lost gold mine in the Catalina Mountains, let local author Clark Norton answer these and many other questions about Tucson you never thought to ask. After writing more than a dozen travel guidebooks, he knows how to peek into the unexplored corners of the Old Pueblo to help you uncover the best of Secret Tucson.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781681062273
Publisher:	Reedy press, LLC.
Publication date:	09/15/2019
Series:	Secret
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Clark Norton, author of 100 Things to Do in Tucson Before You Die as well as fifteen other travel guidebooks, has developed a love for Tucson’s warm desert climes after fleeing the snowy winters of upstate New York. Clark’s favorite Tucson activities include admiring giant saguaros, gorging on prickly pear tacos, exploring the city’s Mex-West heritage, browsing through quirky, off-the-beaten-path museums, and tackling not-too-far-off-the-beaten-path hiking trails—except in the heat of summer, when he may retreat to one of the city’s many new craft breweries. His award-winning travel writing has appeared in many major publications and websites, including his blog, clarknorton.com. And although he has visited more than 120 countries, he is always glad to get back to Tucson, where he lives with his wife, Catharine, and two hopelessly spoiled cats, Rocky and Jake.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 1

Gems, Minerals, and So Much More 2

No Password, No Problem 4

Going Batty 6

Blooming Amazing 8

Signs of Life 10

A Surprising Skirmish 12

Holy Moai! 14

Bear Down! 16

The Lost Treasure of the Catalinas 18

An Enchanted Fantasyland 20

Songs of Love and Sadness 22

Bill Clinton's Fabulous Feast 24

Mirror Images 26

Toy Train Lovers' Dream 28

Hobnobbing With the Snobs 30

Recycling for Parents 32

That's No Mirage 34

Arizona's First Commercial Vineyard 36

Welcome to Tucson 38

John Dillinger's Bad Day 40

Monday Movement 42

First Survive, Then Thrive 44

A Brilliant Bridge 46

A Movie Star's Retreat 48

An Unlikely Transplant 50

Ancient Agriculture 52

Pharmaceutical Fantasia 54

Celebrity Locomotive 56

Swap Till You Drop 58

Desert Snow Play 60

The Mobster Next Door 62

Tucson's Past on Parade 64

An Abundance of Aircraft 66

Backstage at a Movie Palace 68

Secluded Setting 70

A Classy Classic Neighborhood 72

A Chicano Music Legend 74

Farcical Follies 76

History on Horseback 78

Movable Art 80

Faded Glory 82

Vintage Car Showcase 84

Carne, Por Favor 104

Speed Demons 106

Last of a Breed 108

A City Within a City 110

Lyrical Mystery 112

Pearl Harbor Pathway 114

A Christmastime Treat 116

Living Laboratory 118

Unsung Landmark 120

Going Peacefully Postal 122

Lost Barrio Find 124

Not Your Average Selfie 126

The Games People Played 128

Birding Bonanza 130

A Futuristic Flop 132

Playing Pioneer 134

Colossal Hideout 136

Celebrity Rehab 138

In Search of Crested Saguaros 140

Snaking Around 142

The Wishing Shrine 144

A Quirky Royal Manse 146

Seeds of Life 148

A Slice of the Midwest 150

A Walled Oasis 152

Statue Controversy 154

High Flyers 156

A Vintage Trailer Court 158

Poetic Epitaphs 160

Stage Presence 162

Strolling Down the Stravenue 164

A Glimpse Back in Time 166

A Town Filled with Firsts 168

Container Chic 170

Entertaining Overview 172

Wartime Hysteria 174

Tracing Lives 176

Morbid, Yet Stylish 178

Artistic License 180

A Vow Well Kept 182

Village Square Ambiance 184

Urban Tranquility 186

Take Your Pick 188

Semi-Turquoise Trail 190

Rock Star 192

A Historic Oddity 194

An Armory Long Ago 196

Tucson's Forgotten Sanatoria 198

Sources 200

Index 209