1. Origins of the Apache Trail: Native American trails through
the Superstition mountains
a. Trails in the Superstition Mountains and Tonto used by Native
peoples (APP/ASDP, then Salado later Apache) since at least 7th
century
b. Salado ppl cultural blend of APP and ASDP. Lived within the
region til 1450ish, most likely migrated south due to drought.
c. Trails were most likely migratory routes.
d. Lots more info, will condense if necessary
e.
2. Settlers and Miners: The Early Era of the Apache Trail
a. Multiple gold and silver strikes in the 1800s led to
settlements in the area.
b. Time of conflict, soldiers managed to quell the Apache raids
by 1870. Apache used the trail to attack.
c. Trail was surveyed 1880s“William “Billy” Breakenridge, James
H. McClintock, and John H. Norton conducted a feasibility study (re
Salt River dams) for the county board of supervisors. Breakenridge
also explored the route for a possible wagon road at the time of
this study. Billy Breakenridge was a well-known Tombstone lawman
during the 1880s. James McClintock became Arizona’s first official
historian.”
3. Great Tonto Road, Tonto Dam
a. Funded and built to move equipment and materials to build the
Tonto/Roosevelt Dam.
b. Often referred to as the Mesa-Roosevelt Road during this
time.
c. Kris will pull fed records relating to construction at US Nat
archives 4-10/4-17
d. https://www.usbr.gov/lc/phoenix/AZ100/1910/photogallery.html
so many good images, request to USBR for use sent.
4. George Curtis sets up shop, realignment of AT foundation of
AJ
a. .
b. .
c. .
d.
5. AT becomes a tourist destination, AJ begins to grow as
Phoenix expands
a. Melissa’s info
b. .
c. .
6. Modern AT and AJ: transit, transportation and tourism in the
21st century.
a.
https://www.azdot.gov/docs/default-source/projects/sr88-apache-trail-presentation.pdf?sfvrsn=2
b.
https://www.azdot.gov/docs/media/read-arizona's-transportation-history-in-its-entirety-.pdf
c. Message sent to former ADOT AT supervisor Richard Powers via
Linkedin 4/1/18
d.
Stagecoach map AZ state Library map collection:
http://superstitionmountaintomkollenborn.blogspot.com/2014/11/
gold mine of images and information. Getting in touch with Mr
Kollenborn ASAP.
Fun Facts from Kollenborn blog: The first Concord stage made a
run over the Mesa-Roosevelt Road on June 10, 1905. The first
automobile traveling over the road from Mesa to Government Wells
was on August 23, 1905. This Knox Automobile was known as the “Red
Terror.” The first tourist group to travel over the Mesa-Roosevelt
Road was on October 10, 1905. The first major accident to occur on
the Mesa-Roosevelt Road occurred between Mormon Flat and Fish Creek
Hill with a stagecoach. The accident occurred on November 23,
1905.
Shortly after 1915 the road became known as the Apache Trail.
Historians appear to agree in general the origin of the name
“Apache Trail” was coined by an enterprising young entrepreneur who
worked as a railroad agent for the Southern Pacific. The man’s name
was E.E. Watson. Watson was trying to promote the Southern
Pacific’s “Sunset Limited” as it made its way through Arizona. The
Southern Pacific offered a side trip for its transcontinental
passengers over the Apache Trail if they were interested. Southern
Pacific had the franchise on the Apache Trail as a special side
trip for their passengers. The Apache Trail was officially
dedicated as Arizona’s first historic highway on February 25, 1987,
at Lost Dutchman State Park along the Apache Trail. Tourist has
been traveling the Apache Trail since 1906.
