MILEPOSTS

Enjoy Photo Shows, Relive Old Tombstone and See Modern-day Apache Crown Dancers FEEL THE OLD WEST

At Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum, you can experi-ence the Old West through interaction. Visit the opera house where Lily Langtry sang, chat with a working black-smith or enjoy a medicine show. Thirty miles north of downtown Phoenix, this authentic Western village evokes Arizona's Territorial days. The museum features a one-room school, a church, a sheriff's office, a teacherage, a Victorian house, farm house and miners' cabins - all depicting life in 1880. Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.; closed Mon-day, Tuesday and holidays. Admission: $5.25, seniors; $5.75, adults; $4, ages 6-12; free, 5 and under. Information: (623) 465-1052.

IN SEARCH OF FALL FOLIAGE

If you're looking to put a little color in your life, the Arizona Office of Tourism can help. The office's toll-free fall foliage hotline provides tips on where to find peak autumn color throughout the state along with general travel information. AOT directs visitors to the higher elevations to view golden hues of aspen trees, and sends those in pursuit of brilliant reds to areas of big-tooth maple and scarlet sumac trees, squaw-bush shrubs and the Virginia creeper vine. Information: toll-free (888) 520-3444.

OLD WEST BUSINESS NEWS

One of the good customers of the bank was a pioneer Mexican-American fami-ly whose ancestors drove their cattle overland from California in Territorial times. The banker was visiting their ranch and seemed favorably impressed . As he walked to his car for the trip back to town he said: 'Mr. Chavez, you have a good, well-run ranch here; all you really need is a little more dependable water sup-ply.' The old vaquero smiled, 'Mr. White,' he said, 'all hell needs is water.' In the new edition of All Hell Needs is Water, Budge Ruffner Weaves 42 spicy tales of the West that the "Ol' Boys" told him. All Hell Needs is Water (112 pages) is available for $24.95 plus shipping and handling from Arizona Highways, order #HLWS9. To inquire or place an order, call toll-free (800) 543-5432. In the Phoenix area or from outside the United States, call (602) 712-2000. Or, contact Primrose Press, P.Ο. Box 2577, Prescott, AZ 86302; (520) 445-5644. Hope D. Peters

TOUR A COTTON GIN IN PIMA

For an up-close lesson on how cotton is transformed from plant to fiber, sign up for a Glenbar Gin tour at 9845 W. Highway 70, west of Pima. Offered during ginning season, October through January, the tour takes visitors through the cotton gin and demonstrates each step in the process from raw cotton to the finished product.

In nearby Safford, check out the Graham County Historical Museum and Discovery Park, a science, culture and education center.

Hours: February-September, Monday-Friday, 7 Α.Μ.-4 Ρ.Μ.; October-January, Monday-Friday, 7 A.M.-7 P.M.; closed weekends and holidays. Admission: Free. Information: (520) 485-9255.

A THEN AND NOW LOOK AT SOUTHWEST CINEMA

The first motion picture produced in Arizona was not filmed at Old Tucson movie studio. According to John A. Murray's Cinema Southwest, An Illustration Guide to the Movies and Their Locations, Robber's Roost, starring George O'Brien and Maureen O'Sullivan, was filmed in Oak Creek Canyon in 1923, setting the stage for the film industry's interest in Arizona.

Murray's book captures the excitement of filmmaking from the early days to the present and guides you through the South-west starting in California and ending in Texas. Murray discusses movies, actors, directors, writers and filmmakers such as John Ford, who shot many films in Monument Valley, including Stagecoach (1939), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) and Cheyenne Autumn (1964). Cinema Southwest (162 pages) covers Arizona film locations ranging from Canyon de Chelly to Yuma and from Kingman to Elgin.

The book, published by Primrose Press, is available for $21.95 plus shipping and handling from Arizona Highways, order #CINSO. To order, call toll-free (800) 543-5432. In the Phoenix area or from outside the United States, call (602) 712-2000. Hope D. Peters

GETAWAY OF THE STARS

When planning a trip to Kartchner Caverns State Park to view treasures beneath the surface of the Earth, consider staying overnight at the Skywatcher's Inn in nearby Benson to observe the celestial wonders overhead.

No ordinary bed and breakfast, the Skywatcher's Inn offers guests an astronomy and nature retreat that includes access to the adjacent Vega-Bray Observatory, a privately owned astronomical facility equipped with eight tele-scopes, a telescope control room, sliding roof, domed ob-serving rooms, a planetarium, media room, science classroom and museum. Overlooking the San Pedro River valley, at an elevation of 3,860 feet, the inn's three fullsize bedrooms or smaller studio with kitchenette offer an ideal getaway for amateur astronomers. Information: (520) 615-3886. — Susan Cergol

SECRETS OF NAVAJO LAND

Photograph Canyon de Chelly's cliff dwellings, then let LeRoy lead you to seldom-seen whimsical petroglyphs pecked long ago into its mineral-streaked canyon walls. Discover the huge deposit of windswept sand dunes hidden nearby; visit a land filled with spires and twisted red sandstone buttes; enter the realm of Waterholes Canyon, carved by centuries of wind and water; and explore the secret passages and rainbow-colored canyons surrounding Lake Powell. Experience the difference as you "see" this ancient land through the eyes of a native son.

For more information about this workshop or a complete schedule of photo workshops offered by the Friends of Arizona Highways, call toll-free (888) 790-7042, or (602) 712-2004, or visit the Web site at www.friendsofazhighways.com.

EVENTS

Graham County Fair October 5-8; Safford Try your hand at a horseshoe toss or try your luck at climbing a greased pole at this festival of family fun in Safford, a small town in the southeastern corner of the state. Along with those competitions, the 74th Annual Graham Coun-ty Fair offers participants a chance to compete in an open class (any age or skill level) horse show, an arts-and-crafts competition and a three-legged race. Animal lovers from across the state come to bid at the popular livestock auction; others attend for the fair's many art and craft demonstrations. Everyone seems to enjoy the live local music and carnival. Children especially look forward to a stop at the petting zoo. Hours: Thursday, 6 P.M. to midnight; Friday and Saturday, noon to midnight; Sunday, 2 to 8 P.M. Admission: $3, adults; free, under 12. Information: (520) 428-6240.

Zane Grey Days Arts and Crafts Fair October 7-9; Payson Shoot-outs in the streets, homemade edibles and cowboy poetry readings are just a few of the activities during the 3rd Annual Zane Grey Days Arts and Crafts Fair. The event, held at the Gila County Courthouse Park in Payson, celebrates harvest-time traditions and offers an opportunity for visitors and neighbors to rub elbows while enjoying a juried art show and scheduled performances by musicians, dancers and storytellers. Hours: Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Admission: Free. Information: (520) 472-7892.

Helldorado Days October 20-22; Tombstone Relive the gunfights that helped keep Boot Hill Grave-yard in business, and attend the famous shoot-out at the O.K. Corral, with reenactments three times daily during the 71st Annual Hell-dorado Days. This 1880s-style event also features a fashion show of period clothing and street musicians. Marksmanship on horseback will be demonstrated by the Arizona Cowboy Mounted Shooter Association. The three-day celebration wraps up with a parade on Sunday. Hours: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. Admission: Event, free; gunfight shows, $3, general; free, 6 and under. Information: (520) 4573197.

Apache Jii Celebration October 21; Globe Legend says the Crown Danc-ers descended as spirits from the mountains to drive away demons. Modern-day Apache Crown Dancers perform their mystical dance at the 17th An-nual Apache Jii Celebration on Broad Street in the historic downtown district of Globe, a mining town 87 miles east of Phoenix. The daylong event also features Native American singing, dancing and storytell-ing. Native American cuisine, such as fry bread, Indian tacos and Apache corn stew, tempts the taste buds. Artisans offer craft demonstrations and displays of art, jewelry, clothing, dolls and pottery. Hours: 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Admission: Free. Information: toll-free (800) 804-5623.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS ON DISPLAY, CELEBRATING 75 YEARS

The 75th anniversary year celebration continues with ongoing photographic exhibits.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS: CELEBRATING THE TRADITION

The Arizona Highways Photography of Ansel Adams, David Muench and Jack Dykinga. Organized by the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona, Tucson; Phoenix Art Museum; and the Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff; in association with Arizona Highways.

THROUGH NOVEMBER 5 Museum of Northern Arizona, 3101 N. Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff Celebrating the Tradition is sponsored by Eller Media.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS: CELEBRATING OUR LAND, OUR PEOPLE

Seventy-five images from the pages of Arizona Highways in the signature style of the magazine dramatic landscapes, intimate portraits, flora and fauna - all seen through the eyes of today's best photographers.

OCTOBER 7 NOVEMBER 12 Tubac Center for the Arts, 9 Plaza Road, Tubac Celebrating Our Land, Our People is sponsored by Ramada Express Hotel Casino, Laughlin, Nevada; Northern Trust Bank; and Image Craft Photo Imaging Services.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS GALLERY

A permanent exhibit features favorites from the pages of the magazine - landscapes and a few desert creatures by various contributing photographers.

PERMANENT EXHIBIT Mesa Southwest Museum, 53 N. MacDonald St., Mesa

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS: CELEBRATING THE GRAND CANYON

Photography by Gary Ladd from Arizona Highways' 75th anniversary coffee-table book, Grand Canyon: Time Below the Rim.

THROUGH NOVEMBER 5 Mesa Southwest Museum, 53 North MacDonald St., Mesa NOVEMBER 17 MAY 27, 2001 The Sharlot Hall Museum, 415 W. Gurley St., Prescott

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS: CELEBRATING NATIVE CULTURES

The photography of Jerry Jacka.

THROUGH MARCH 11, 2001 Heard Museum, 22 E. Monte Vista Road, Phoenix JUNE 16 OCTOBER 5, 2001 Museum of Northern Arizona, 3101 N. Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff Support funding for all special anniversary activities is provided by Motorola.