SEE ARIZONA

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one of a series of articles describing the different types of scenic and tourist attractions found in Arizona.

Along noted as a winter resort center, and for the variety of its attractions, Southern Arizona also contains several of the state's most popular summer resort sections, and among these Mt. Lemmon, in the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, and other points in the Catalinas and in the Santa Ritas to the south, are well worth consideration in any "See Arizona" vacation trip.

Mt. Lemmon, indeed, will rate with Iron Springs and Mormon Lake among Arizona's real summer colonies, for a large number of Tucson residents maintain charming cabins among its towering pines on the very crest of the massive Catalina range. A rustic lodge provides accommodations for the wayfarer, while cottages also may be rented by those who would make a more extended stay.

More than 7,500 feet in altitude, the resort area atop Mt. Lemmon rivals Northern Arizona in the magnificence of its timber and delightfulness of its climate. Mountain streams, a swimming pool, riding and hiking offer a variety of diversion in bracing mountain air, while from innumerable spots on the surrounding peaks the visitor has spread before him a gorgeous panorama of range and valley, hill and desert, that it is hard to equal in color and perspective.

The drive to Mt. Lemmon from Tucson, a distance of 67 miles by road though but 25 miles in an air line, is in itself a rare scenic delight. Leaving the Florence-Phoenix highway 28 miles from Tucson, the road winds its way for another 10 miles through pleasant foothill country to the pretty little town of Oracle, likewise popular as a summer resort and headquarters for several attractive guest ranches which are equally popular winter and summer. Here the altitude strikes an excellent all-year mark of 4,500 feet, and oaks and sycamores along a whispering creek add to the invigorating atmosphere. From Oracle the Mt. Lemmon highway winds through foothills and shady canyons until perceptible grades are reached, and presently the motorist has begun the real ascent and arrives at the control point beyond which traffic is regulated. From here to the summit every turn in the well-maintained highway reveals a new vista of immeasurable distance, with other lofty ranges looming across broad valleys bright with color in the sun.

For those who would include Mt. Lemmon in one of Arizona's famous "loop" vacation tours, several alternative routes from either south or north, east or west, are available. The connecting road to Oracle from the main Tucson-FlorencePhoenix highway continues on to Mammoth and thence to Winkleman, where another scenic mountain highway leads northward to Globe.

Besides Mt. Lemmon, a number of the Catalinas' canyons are popular for camping and picnicking, among them Sabino Canyon 15 miles from Tucson and Canada del Oro on the western slope, near Oracle. All are situated in the northern division of the Coronado National Forest.

The Santa Rita Mountains south of

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS

Tucson contain another popular recreational area in another division of the Coronado National Forest, centering in White House or Madera Canyon. Nestling in the mountains 42 miles southeast of the Old Pueblo city, White House Canyon has a steadily growing cabin colony and the Santa Rita Trails Resort. Oaks, sycamores and cottonwoods flourish in the elvation of 5,100 feet, giving way to lofty pines, laced with wild grape, wild cherry and ferns, as one ascends the canyon.

Any trip to the summer resort regions of Southern Arizona should by all means include visits to the Casa Grande Ruins near Coolidge and Casa Grande, the famous San Xavier Mission near Tucson, and Tumacacori between Tucson and Nogales. All three rank among Arizona's best-known tourist attractions, and the latter two are recognized as outstanding specimens of Spanish mission architecture in this country.

South of Phoenix one of the main "See Arizona" routes leads past Casa Grande Ruins, between Casa Grande and Florence and through to Tucson, where the pine-topped Catalinas and Santa Rita mountains respectively north and south furnish cool and refreshing refuge for summer vacationists. Past lovely white San Xavier mission and farther on, ancient Tumacacori-fascinating reminders of Spanish holdings hundreds of years ago -the main road stops at the Mexican border. Here colorful Mexican atmosphere enchants the visitor, and again on the road east through delightful Sonoita Creek canyon is the Patagonia country with its cool climate and its scenic canyons and fine guest ranches.

In Casa Grande National Monument a unique type of pre-historic dwelling is preserved. Casa Grande, meaning "great Casa house," is descriptive of a group of ruined walls which once composed a large structure four stories high. The ruin lies on the flat plain just off the road on the route from Florence to Casa Grande, and in the interior and surroundings is a fascinating field for study of Arizona's first farmers. Proof of the high degree of civilization to which these people attained is found in the intricate canal and irrigation system leading from the Gila river, the remains of which can easily be traced in this vicinity. Much of the social and political life of this agricultural race has been gleaned from the ruins themselves and from relics found in and about them. A custodian of the ruins is on hand to explain and interpret the interesting features of this remarkable spot.

From prehistoric times to Arizona's early history, the "See Arizona" enthusiast now travels-down to Tumacacori Mission some 20 miles north of Nogales on the Mexican border. Here in the midst of what was one of the most luxurious foreign settlements in the country, this once proud mission stood as a spiritual guide to the conquering Spaniards and to the hundreds of Indians who were living under protection of the padres and growing into the Catholic faith. It was established by Father Eusebio Francisco Kino in 1691 and is 78 years older than the oldest mission in California. The mark of the flames on the wooden beams of the belfrey bears evidence of the swift night attack of warring Indians that destroyed the mission and broke up the settlement, but many are the tales of mystery and superstition that have grown up around it.

The two white towers of San Xavier overlook Tucson and the widespreading Santa Cruz valley like a benediction from the Spanish fathers. From afar the mission can be seen standing on a slight promontory south of the Old Pueblo. On nearer approach the beauty and symmetry of its lines become more impressive and the strength and meaning of the whole structure more apparent.

Founded by Father Kino in 1692, religious work at San Xavier mission has been almost continuously kept up by Jesuit and Franciscan orders in spite of the changes that were going on around it. It was originally located in the Indian village of Bac, which in turn had been the locale of a pre-historic city, probably contemporaneous with life at Casa Grande Ruin, so that human existence in this southwest country has continued in an unending chain up from the remote past.

In contrast to the simplicity of the two towers and the bare whiteness of the exterior walls of San Xavier is the highly ornate gabled entrance. The suggestion of soft red in its ornamental work is all that is left of the original coloring which was probably done in bright contrast. After the first impression of gloom has worn off, the interior decoration, resembling much of the finer work of the Spanish masters, comes to light, rich in symbol and religious significance. Some of the frescoes reveal the hand of an artist, while smaller paintings and decorations are of more primitive character.

A walled atrium in front of the church formed an outdoor meeting place for the Indians and was later used as a grave-yard, and in a little rocky recess of the nearby hill stands the Shrine of San Xavier del Bac.

Not far south from this once garden spot, the dashing Francisco Vasquez de Coronado began his famous journey northward in search of the Seven Cities of Cibola and untold wealth. The now famous Coronado Trail preserves in name the memory of these first "See Arizona" tourists who never found the precious metal they sought, but whose feet ever trod over and along the path of wealth in agricultural and mineral resources of which they had no conception.

The two Spanish missions described are near many of the popular summer resort sections of the southern part of the state. Tumacacori in Santa Cruz county is close to the delightful Patagonia section with its cool canyons and fine guest ranches. The mountain resorts of Mount Lemon and Oracle in the Catalinas north-east of Tucson and those of the Santa Ritas to the south of the city, look down upon San Xavier, inviting in their cool, refreshing heights. Hotel accommodations, cottages and