National Indian Arts Exhibition

The Scottsdale National Indian Arts Exhibition celebrating its tenth anniversary, February 27 through March 7, 1971, at the Executive House Arizonian, Scottsdale, has, in these few years, become the largest and finest Indian Art Show in the nation.

The exhibition encourages the presentation of the best of traditional Indian art, and also allows the Indian artist and craftsman to present new ideas, new styles, and new techniques. From its start as a small Southwestern Indian Painting Exhibition that was held as an experiment, it has grown to such an extent that it now encompasses crafts and creative writing; and has entries from all parts of the United States and Canada.

Through special awards, in special activities, the Scottsdale National takes a great interest in furthering the talents of the young Indian. Plans are now being formulated for the next ten year period which will see the development of a program even more encompassing of the total picture of the Indian youth and his struggle for excellence and recognition in all of of the arts.

For an unprecedented third time in succession, according to the Arizona State Department Board of Economic Planning and Development, the National Discover America Travel Organization, Inc., has selected the Scottsdale National Indian Arts Exhibition for its March list of the twenty most important Travel Events in the nation.

People travel from afar to see and buy. Last year's attendance was 9,000 persons from every state in the nation, as well as a few foreign countries.

Maricopa maintains the largest county parks system in the United States. Its ten sprawling parks and various recreation areas such as the Black Canyon Shooting Range (which hosted 61 countries in the world finals shooting matches last year) offer tourists and residents a multitude of spectator events and recreation programs.

Recreational benefits are also the primary attractions of Youngtown and Sun City, twin cities developed for retirement living about 12 miles northwest of Phoenix. A relative newcomer to the county, Del Webb's Sun City sprouted from the desert floor in 1960 and has been one of the Southwest's fastest growing communities. In one decade this resort-retirement town has attracted 14,000 residents (Youngtown has 1,871) and more than two million visitors. The unique community created by Del E. Webb Corporation features five golf courses, two recreation-geared lakes, a 7,500-seat outdoor amphitheater, swimming pools and four community recreation centers. It has become known as the town that changed America's viewpoint on retirement.

Another of the county's most publicized places is “The West's Most Western Town” Scottsdale. Founded in 1895 by Chaplain Winfield Scott who homesteaded 160 acres near what is now the intersection of Indian School and Scottsdale Roads, the little village soon began to attract health-seekers to its dry climate. But she remained a small trade center with a population of about 2,000 until World War II. Lured by her scenery, sunshine, outstanding shops, artists and craftsmen, visitors became residents; by 1970 she had acquired a population of 66,852 and a diversified economy supported by tourism, commercial activities and manufacturing.

Today's sports-minded tourist can watch the Chicago Cubs major league baseball team train at their winter home, Scottsdale Stadium, view polo, rodeo competition, or play golf on one of the city's ten courses. Resorts provide both casual steak fries and sophisticated night spots; cultural attractions include Taliesin West (Frank Lloyd Wright's School of Architecture), the Paolo Soleri studio and American Heritage Wax Museum.

This city and the neighboring residential community of Paradise Valley have become a center for Arabian horse breeding and the scene of the county's most famed horse shows. Several resorts also dot the scenic acres of Paradise Valley; among the newest is John Gardiner's Tennis Ranch on Camelback. This facility's teaching staff of four pros is headed by internationally ranked Ken Rosewall of Sydney, Australia, who won the U.S. Open championship last year.

Located near the northern fringe of the Valley metropolis (about 20 miles north of Scottsdale), are the communities of Cave Creek and Carefree, which are blending their growth with the natural beauty of the desert. These resort-residential towns have enjoyed a surge of growth and tourism in the last decade. Rich in western lore, Cave Creek was a pioneer center for mining, cattle and sheep raising during Maricopa County's infancy in the 1870's. Now land development and tourism are her main assets.

Born in the late 1950's Carefree provides the tourist with many attractions including her giant sundial, unique shops, famed International Restaurant, Carefree Inn, Desert Forest Golf Course and Carefree Airpark. This desert foothills area is stirring with numerous new land developments. A striking new landmark a 50-foot tall Kachina doll marks Tonto Hills, another planned residential community.

Located at the county's northern boundary (60 miles north-west of Phoenix) is Wickenburg which was a prosperous min-ing camp when Maricopa was still part of Yavapai County. Today her 2,640 residents depend upon much of that early West lore to sustain an active tourist business. Flanked by some small cattle and mining operations, Wickenburg has gained fame as one of the nation's leading dude ranch centers.

The largest city in the southwest portion of Maricopa County is Gila Bend, started in 1865 by a colony of settlers who raised grain near a sweeping bend in the Gila River. Its post office was established near the stage station in 1871, but the site of the town shifted a little later to the point where a railroad depot was established. The agriculturally oriented community has grown to serve 1,726 residents. The area's rich irrigated farmland yields cotton, vegetables, melons and grain. The grains are used to fatten approximately 300,000 head of cattle annually in the surrounding area.

Its economy is further boosted by the Gila Bend Air Force Station, and Bell Aero Systems. The Gila Bend Gunnery Range, Painted Rock prehistoric Indian pyramid and Painted Rock Dam are of interest to tourists visiting the area.

Maricopa County residents are not limited to the cultural and recreational benefits of their respective communities. The great blending of boundaries and assets affords both the resident and visitor a broad range of entertainment. Theaters and museums are sprinkled throughout the county along with lush city parks, public swimming pools, golf courses, commercial riding stables, shooting ranges and skating rinks. Opening in 1965, Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix has boosted all manner of Valley spectator sports while helping spawn the Phoenix Roadrunners (WHL) hockey team and the Phoenix Suns NBA basketball team. In addition to major league baseball teams already mentioned, the San Francisco Giants, Parent Club of the Phoenix Giants of the Pacific Coast League, winter in the Valley at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

Such facilities as Turf Paradise, Greyhound Park and Bee-line Dragway help meet the many needs of a leisure-loving population. In addition, the Salt River Project lakes to the east of the Valley and Lake Pleasant on the west provide fishing, hunting, camping, sailing, picnicking, water skiing, and other boating activities.

Horsemen, hikers and bicyclers who feel they are being elbowed off the busy streets and roads of Maricopa's communities, can get a leisurely view of the area via the Sun Circle Trail which circles the Valley and spokes out into the county. Many miles of the trails are along Salt River Project canals. Today these shining assets adorn a glowing desert lady whose beauty has caught the eye of the nation. But this princess is still feeling growing pains and surveys show she will experi ence an annual average increase of 39,124 residents for the next 15 years. This means that just as some communities such as Orangewood and Ingleside have disappeared, being absorbed totally by the Valley metropolis, new ones will appear on the face of the county to meet the needs of her projected population increase. Some of these, such as Harquahala Valley in the northwest section of the county and McCulloch's Fountain Hills in the northeast area, are already under development. The growing farming community of Harquahala Valley has approximately 1,000 residents who produce lettuce, cotton and grapes from the surrounding rich farmland. Here light planes are a way of life and each farm has its own landing strip. The climate, rural hospitality and recreation afforded by the nearby Eagle Tail Mountains are major factors in its future.

Another of Robert McCulloch's famed "planned communities," Fountain Hills is sprouting in an untapped area which will encompass 19 square miles and serve a 78,000 population upon completion. McDowell Mountain Regional Park (14 miles northeast of Scottsdale) will border it on the north and the long-awaited Orme Dam and reservoir will enhance its eastern boundary. Developers estimate that by 1980 this community will have a population of 12,580 and represent 6.5 percent of the needed county increase. Thus the princess has awakened to that special touch which has carefully molded her countenance for 100 years. Just as a woman's beauty is dependent upon many factors, Maricopa County has matured and blossomed with the interaction of her towns and cities. There has been no real loss of identity, rather a subtle blending of assets. The alliance has proved beneficial for all... and the princess has become a stately queen.