Geologic Wonder and Ancestral Homeland

 This was the first time going to see the Grand Canyon National Park.  That year we moved to Chandler, AZ from Urbana-Champaign, IL.

Here is a layout of my mom and me and my stepdad and me in front of the Grand Canyon.  I think the red and orange goes great with the colors of the canyon,

Grand Cany National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Long Distance Communication

In 4/1977, my parents and I went on the Pony Express NHT in Nebraska.  One of the stops was at Gothenburg Pony Express Station.  I don't remember anything about the place.  That picture is my mom and me sitting on the saddle bag.  This is how my adventures started with the National Parks.

Pony Express National Historic Trail (U.S. National Park Service)

 

FREE LAND was the Cry!

In 4/1977, my parents and I went to Homestead National Monument of America in Nebraska.  I was nine months old, so I don't remember anything of this park.

I just did a simple layout to remind that I was there in my life.

Homestead National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)

 

A Frontier Fort for an Expanding Country

 

10/4/2024, my dad and I went to Fort Union in New Mexico.  This was a quick stop.  We got there about half hour before it closed.  We didn't get to walk around that much.  Me in front of the sign, dad on the trail to the fort and me setting on a bench.

Fort Union National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)

The Great Prairie Highway

10/4/2024, I was visiting my dad in New Mexico.  Some of the parks we went to were part of the Santa Fe NHT.

Traders witnessed a lived-in-pueblo to later seeing crumbling remains of the Peco Pueblo.  Near Pecos there was Pigeon's Ranch and there was a stage stop for visitors and traders.

Fort Union was also a stage stop for the Santa Fe Trail.  Where soldiers would stop there.

 Santa Fe National Historic Trail (U.S. National Park Service)

Kannally Ranch House

 

On 3/20/2025, While my dad and stepmom were here, we went up to Oracle to see my dad's sister.  This is the Oracle State Park.  This was a family ranch house for the Kannally family.  Two brothers Neil and Lee bought this 160-acre ranch in 1903.  Later three more family members joined them at the ranch.  The Kannally ranch was built in 1929-1932. 

Looking the house was beautiful to see.  There was a gathering room, dining with kitchen and a bathroom.  As you can see there were no bedrooms.  They also built two cottages on the property where they lived with their families.

There was a beautiful courtyard to gather in.  Here some pictures of me and my family.

Oracle State Park | Arizona

"Great House"

On 4/21/2025, my mom and me went to Casa Grande Ruins NM in Coolidge, Arizona.  Here are some pictures of the ruins underneath the medal cover.  There are ruins of walls around the area too.  They were working on it during the time we were there.

This was named after Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino wrote in his journal Casa Grande (Great House).

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)