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| Tucson's Got Rocks |
| by James Cowlin
If you love gems, minerals and pretty rocks of all kinds, there is no better place to be right now than in Tucson, Arizona. The annual gem and mineral show is in full swing in forty locations scattered around downtown Tucson. The big event takes place February 10th through the 14th at the Convention Center when the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society show will be open to the public. But a couple of weeks ago, big white tents started popping up all over town and soon filled with goods ranging from raw, uncut rocks to finished jewelry and everything in between.
 | | Mineral & Fossil Co-op |
Barbara and I spent a sunny Saturday afternoon visiting several venues to get a better sense of what to expect from a more extended tour. Our first stop was the Mineral & Fossil Co-op housed in a metal warehouse building. From the moment we walked in we realized that this the high-end of the market. The merchants displayed everything from a full mastodon skeleton to hugh geodes and enormous fossil-containing slabs of rock. This was stuff you would expect to see in natural history museums.
 | | Australian Outback Mining |
Our next stop was a lot full of tents which was quite a contrast from the Co-op. Here were barrels full of chucks of rock, presumably hiding treasures within. One exhibitor was Australian Outback Mining whose tables were loaded with some of the most colorful slabs of rock I had ever seen. One of the most intriguing was Tiger Eye with golden minerals that seemed shimmer below the surface of the stone.
 | | Mata Ortiz Pottery |
Our final stop for the day was at Tucson Electric Park, one of the largest venues for the gem and mineral show. Need some tools or supplies for your jewelry business? How about beads, lots and lots and lots of strings of beads? Or are you looking for a bargain price on Mata Ortiz pottery? Well, the truth comes out. The later is what Barbara was looking for. We have a small collection of pots from the southwest including several from Mata Ortiz in Mexico. They are very beautiful, finely crafted and still reasonably priced and there is a dealer here that we have bought from in the past. After a few minutes, Barbara found two small pots to add to our collection.
For a complete guide to everything there is to see and do, check out the Tucson Gem and Mineral Shows website.
What we love about events like the gem and mineral show is that you can have fun exploring a world you might not have known even existed and most of it is free. There are a number of events coming up this month along US Route 89 that promise to be entertaining, enlightening and inexpensive. There is a list at the bottom of the newsletter with links to websites for more information. So get out on the road and have a good time.
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| Arizona Centennial Countdown | |  Next Monday, February 14th, is the 99th anniversary of Arizona's statehood. It is also the kickoff to a year of celebrations leading up the the centennial in 2012. As an official Arizona Centennial Legacy Project, we will be part of the Countdown taking place on the capital lawn from 10 am to 2 pm. If you are in Phoenix, please come by and get a taste of all the exciting events that are being planned to celebrate Arizona's birthday.
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| Fun February Events on US Route 89 | | Click on the event title for more information.
Tubac Festival of the Arts, Feb. 9-13, Tubac, Arizona,
For a guide to places to visit in this section of historic US Route 89, go to the Nogales to Tucson Road Trip Guide
American Indian Music Festival at Casa Grande Ruin National Monument, Feb. 12-13, Coolidge, Arizona
26th Annual Tour of Historic Florence, Feb 12, Florence, Arizona
Southwest Indian Art Fair, Feb. 19-20, Arizona State Museum, Tucson, Arizona
Spring Festival of the Arts, Feb 19-20, Oro Valley, Arizona
For a guide to places to visit in this section of historic US Route 89, go to the Tucson to Apache Junction Road Trip Guide
Bear Lake Chocolate and Crafts Festival, Feb 18-19, Garden City, Utah
For a guide to places to visit in this section of US Route 89, go to the Brigham City to Montpelier Road Trip Guide |
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