In the recent Desert Caballeros Museum blog I mentioned this historic building which first housed the Vernetta Hotel. I didn’t mention the lady standing in front. Her name is Elizabeth Hudson Smith. The railroad hired her to cook for their passengers during their stop in Wickenburg.
She is one of several talking sculptures scattered around town. The sculptures represent different people and types of people who settled in Wickenburg. Push a button on the building and a recording gives a brief bit of history about the person and their part in the town’s history.
We happened to park next to this miner.
Nonhuman residents are also represented. (The first time I saw this—a couple of years ago—the sign was off to the side. I’m guessing too many people were frightened by it!) There is a walking tour featuring all of the sculptures available at the Wickenburg Visitors’ Center. That’s on our to-do list.
When we visited the Hassayumpa River Nature preserve, we encountered a whole section of touchables. I thought the comparison in sizes of bat and hummingbird very interesting.
While enjoying the cactus garden we encountered a giant bug, (possibly a kind of wasp) easily 2 inches long.
The biggest bee we’d ever seen—also at least 2 inches long.
Tomorrow we ride.
Louise and Duane
1 comment:
Do you remember when we visited town and Louise got down on her hands and knees and kissed a spider. What a hoot.
Egads...now that is one ugly bug!
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