Storytelling of the old west...

Community mural in the "historic" downtown area of Cottonwood. A story is waiting to be told in this artistic rendition of the "old west"...the history and rich culture of this area...Yavapai County.

(The above pic and the italicized information below are from the following link: http://www.artconnections.org/html/participation.html)

Artists and community businesses contributed talents and resources to nurture Cottonwood’s first public mural. Artists spent 4 weeks designing the mural. Ideas and images came from thoughts of community member’s strong connections to their environment, their history and their diverse cultures.

Artists involved are Carol Hildebrand, Diana Holladay, Catherine Beason, Theresa Shostakovich, Carl Cambio, Janet Baser, Sallie Martinez, Serafina Raphael, Mina Shore, Jessica Sierra, Don Decker and Kathy Englund. All artists volunteered to work on the design committee because they felt this was a worthwhile project for the community. Sherwin Williams donated gallons of paint, Focus on Graphics and Copy Max helped get brochures and letters printed. Leslie Owen and Rebecca Baker of Buena Vista Children’s Services partnered and many of their students in the Discovery Connection helped with the design.

"In 1874 soldiers from Camp Verde were stationed at an adobe house, but at that time there was no name for the present Cottonwood (where the house existed). As settlers moved in and the community developed, it took its name from a circle of sixteen large cottonwoods growing about one-quarter of a miles away from the Verde River. The place was unhealthful. Malaria and dysentry were severe problems as mosquitos rose in thick clouds from stagnant pools left by receding floods. Such quinine as was available sold at $4.00 an ounce and could be bought only when it was in surplus at Camp Verde. Nevertheless, by 1879, several families had settled there, including the Nichols, Van Deerens, Hawkins, and Strahans. It is a curious fact that eact family had nine children. The adobe building formerly used by soldiers became a school house. Today Cottonwood is a thriving community. P.O. est March 6, 1879, William H. Michael pm.
(info from following link: http://jeff.scott.tripod.com/cottonwood.html)
Tuzigoot National Monument was created to preserve the Indian culture of the area. The name Tuzigoot is an Apache word for “crooked water”. The site covers 42 acres and has so many things to offer its visitors.

The Sinaguan Indians built Tuzigoot in 1000 A.D. The Sinagua Indians worked the land and traded with other cultures. Then in 1400 the Indians just vanished. Tuzigoot is the remains of their village or pueblo. The pueblo includes 110 rooms with second and third story structures. (This information and much more on the Tuzigoot National Monument is found at this site: http://www.arizonan.com/parks/tuzigoot-national-monument/)