History. "Nothing but a pack of tricks that we play upon the dead," Voltaire tells us. Then, Napoleon: "What is history but a fable agreed upon?" Then, Tolstoy: "A wonderful thing-if only it were true." Then, Valéry: "The science of what never happens twice." Then, Shaw: "We learn from history that we learn nothing from history." Then, Truman: "I have written too much history to have any faith in it; and if anyone thinks I'm wrong, I'm inclined to agree with him." Forewarned and thus, forearmed, in this issue we offer a variety of backward glances.

First, our opening story brings the first national and international attention to La Ciudad-the largest current American archeological investigation promulgated by a highway project. Like its mythical namesake, modern Phoenix rises from the ashes of an earlier existence. The ancient Hohokam people irrigated 50,000 acres of rich desert, exported food and fabric, cast copper bells and fashioned exquisite mosaics, perhaps played sports on clay courts, and for some reason not fully understood, vanished.

Arizona Highways (ISSN 0004-1521) is published monthly by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Subscription price $15 a year in U.S. and possessions, $18 elsewhere; single copies $1.50 each, $2 each outside U.S. Please send subscription correspondence and change of address information to Arizona Highways, 2039 West Lewis Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009 or call (602) 258-6641.

In our next feature flash visions hundreds of millions of years old. Images of galaxies, constellations, and comets spin across the psychedelic dome of Flandrau Planetarium, one of the numerous enterprises today making Tucson, Arizona, "The Astronomy Capital of the World."

Then we showcase a not-so-old institution: the Arizona Historical Society, celebrating its centennial. A hundred years is a long, long time in a state as young as Arizona. Yet the so-called Old West quickly passed away-and the society's archives tell of a brief human era.

"Me study history?" a subject of our next story stated, "Why, heck, I lived it." He is an enthusiastic senior citizen recently converted to the increasingly popular movement called Elderhostel.

Around the world it's back-to-school time for the young-at-heart.

Finally, this issue gives you the first "Arizona Highways Classic Revisited." From time to time we'll reprint a longago piece by a Ross Santee or a Frank Dobie or a Mary Kidder Rak. This classic by the late Irvin S. Cobb appeared in the July issue of 1940. But be warned (by Samuel Butler), "God cannot alter the past, but historians can."

Something new: this issue of Arizona Highways contains design elements never before possible. Our Gary Bennett and Lorna Holmes made use of a $175,000 Cadograph 500-a computer-assisted drafting machine recently acquired by our printer, the W. A. Krueger Company. A room full of equipment, the system makes possible layouts of detail and accuracy beyond human skills. See the fine lines repeated throughout the magazine. See the precision ovals on pages 27 and 38. See the banner, diamonds, and faint rules on pages 24 and 25. All, humanly impossible, without the Cadograph.

Second class postage paid at Phoenix, Arizona. Postmaster: Send address changes to Arizona Highways, 2039 West Lewis Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009. © Copyright 1984 by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The magazine is not responsible for unsolicited materials provided for editorial consideration.

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Contents

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS FEBRUARY 1984 VOLUME 60, NO. 2 CONTENTS