KARTCHNER CAVERNS-DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT

In 1974, two young cavers, Randy Tufts and Gary Tenen, explore a warm stream of air emanating from a crack in a sinkhole located in the Whetstone Mountains and discover a major cave system. Tufts and Tenen keep their find secret till 1978 when they approach the Kartchner family, the owners of the land under which the cavern system is located. Plans are formulated to protect and develop the cave. In the meantime, the cave's existence is kept secret from the general public. Negotiations are begun with the State of Arizona in regard to possible state acquisition of the caverns. In 1988, the Arizona State Parks board purchases the caverns for 1.8 million dollars. The general public is finally informed of the existence of the caverns. In 1999, after more than a decade of development, tours of the caverns are opened to the public. Today, the Kartchner Caverns draw over 200, 000 visitors annually. Larry Elkins elkinsphotos.com

KARTCHNER CAVERNS - A WONDER TO EXPERIENCE

I am posting this entry one day after having visited for the first time the wonder of Kartchner Caverns State Park. Kartchner, considered by many experts to be one of the top ten caves in the world, has managed to strike a precarious balance between preservation as a live scientific cave and a unique and fascinating point of interest accessible to the public. In fact, it is the only U.S.cave fully accessible by wheelchair. Yet, despite the accessibility, great care has been taken to keep the cave in as pristine a condition as possible. Visitors are shuffled through a series of doors in order not to affect the temperature and humidity of the caverns. The cave's special lighting has been laid, whenever possible, along the route taken by Kartchner's discoverers in an effort to disrupt the cave environment as little as possible.The result is that something like 80 - 90 percent of the cave floor has never been set foot upon by man. In addition, the cave formations have remained virtually undisturbed by man. Unlike Colossal Cave in nearby Pima County or the famed Carlsbad Caverns in neighboring New Mexico, Kartchner Caverns will remain a living, still developing cave due to the care taken to protect the cave from man's interference. Having visited both Colossal Cave and Carlsbad Caverns, both of which I would highly recommend, I would have to say that the visit to Kartchner was quite different than the other two. In keeping Kartchner Caverns in a relatively pristine condition, there have been trade offs. The lighting, for instance, is less flashy. The primary purpose is to protect the cave. However, it also, in my humble opinion, allows the visitor to see the cave in a way that is closer to how the cave's discoverers viewed things when they first descended into this alien environment. There's no whiff of the amusement park here. Perhaps, in some ways, the experience is less impressive, but the rewards of knowing that this same cave environment can, potentially, be enjoyed by generations to come, makes the trade off more than acceptable. In my next post, I'll discuss the cave's discovery and the extraordinary measures taken to protect and develop it. Then, in the post following that, I will attempt to relate what it is like touring this unique natural wonder. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos Fine Art Photography elkinsphotos.com

BISBEE FOURTH OF JULY

If you'd like to experience an old fashioned Fourth of July, it's not too early to begin planning a July 4 visit to Bisbee AZ. Bisbee's Fourth of July celebration features a fast paced coaster race down winding Tombstone Canyon, an old time community parade, mining contests, semi-professional baseball and nighttime fireworks. Stay tuned for more details. Larry Elkins elkinsphotos.com

ELKINSPHOTOS.COM - FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

Just a reminder - Check out our sister website Elkinsphotos Fine Art Photography at www.elkinsphotos.com. The website currently features eight gallery pages spotlighting work by Bisbee AZ photographer Larry Elkins including nature/wildlife, portraiture, landscape, fine art nudes, travel/events, eclectic, images of Ecuador and a vintage base ball photo essay. Larry Elkins elkinsphotos.com

DEGRAZIA-THE BISBEE YEARS

SPECIAL ALERT - DEGRAZIA - THE BISBEE YEARS - Famed American artist Ted DeGrazia resided in Bisbee Arizona during the 1930's and 1940's. Now the Bisbee Council on the Arts & Humanities' Muheim Heritage House has teamed with the DeGrazia Foundation and the Copper Queen Hotel to present a three month series of events - 'DEGRAZIA-THE BISBEE YEARS'. The cornerstone of this presentation will be an exhibit of several original works of DeGrazia art at the Muheim Heritage House. This unprecedented showing of DeGrazia's works is the result of the generosity of the DeGrazia Foundation in its dealings with the residents of Bisbee. Related events planned for the January 16th opening of the DeGrazia show include a wine & cheese reception at the Copper Queen Hotel hosted by the Muheim Heritage House, a Degrazia film festival presented by film archivist George Hall (at the C.Q. Hotel) and a reception for the photo exhibit 'DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun' a photo essay by Larry Elkins which will run concurrently with the Degrazia - The Bisbee Years exhibit. A series of presentations will be held weekly at the Muheim Heritage House during the run of the Degrazia shows. My next post will detail these weekly events. LARRY ELKINS ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

BISBEE SHOPPING GUIDE

BISBEE SHOPPING GUIDE - While I'll be covering things to see & do in Bisbee AZ on a regular basis, I thought I'd mention a new feature on my website that relates to Bisbee. The new Bisbee Shopping Guide on my website elkinsphotos.com is worth taking a look at if you're contemplating a trip to the area. It outlines the two main shopping districts in Bisbee's Historical District and an overview of what they have to offer. LARRY ELKINS - ELKINS PHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

FORT HUACHUCA MUSEUM

One of the more unique museums of Cochise County is the Fort Huachuca Historical Museum located at Brown's Parade Field within the fort grounds. This museum tells the story of the fort's early days. Exhibits cover the fort's role in the Apache wars and its later involvement in protecting the border region from marauding renegade Apaches and bandits both Mexican and homegrown. It also includes exhibits highlighting the 10th Cavalry regiment, the famed Buffalo Soldiers who served at Fort Huachuca under General Black Jack Pershing. Contact Fort Huachuca or the Sierra Vista Chamber of Commerce for information on days and hours of operation. Larry Elkins - Elkins Photos Fine Art Photography