Wickenburg - Wild West in Arizona

To the southeast of Lake Havasu, we drove about180 mi  on "scenic routes" through the Sonoran Desert, before we reached Wickenburg - a cute little wildwest town around a railroad station. Last time we were passing through, two or three years ago, it was raining out of buckets, and, we didn't see much - with the exception of the great Desert Caballeros Western Museum (left photo).

Henry Wickenburg, 1819-1905, was a Prussian prospector who came to the area in search of gold and discovered a profitable mine. He founded the city in 1863, and, in the course of time, ranchers and farmers settled on the fertile flood plain of the Hassayampa River. It was a rough start for the town with Indian wars, mine closures, drought and a  flood in 1890, but the city grew, and, in 1895 the railroad came to Wickenburg. 

 

 

 

This upcoming weekend the "Gold Rush Days" - a big wildwest festival with parade, rodeo, fair ground activities, etc. is taking place - but we drove on to Scottsdale to visit with friends.

There are many antiques/vintage stores in town, see above.