Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Driving through Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument at dusk, the landscape does not feel empty, it feels inhabited.
As the sun lowers behind the Ojo Mountains, long shadows stretch across the sand. The silhouette of organ pipe and saguaro cacti rise with arms lifted toward a sky painted in amber color. This is the Sonoran Desert, one of the most biologically diverse deserts in the world. It supports a varsity of plant and animal life. The monument is named for the organ pipe cactus, a tall, multi-stemmed cactus that grows naturally in a very few places in the United States.
Established in 1937 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the monument protects the rare ecosystem as well as a cultural crossroads. For centuries, The Tohono O’odham people have lived in and moved through this region, following seasonal rhythms. The land also holds traces of Spanish explorers, ranchers, and miners.
The drive along the Ajo Mountain Loop at dusk reveals the subtle movement of the desert. The air cools and the towering cacti stand like witnesses to the changing landscape. Organ Pipe is a monument to the land and culture of this region.
Read More From Nancy
Fort Bowie National Historic Site
Walking into Fort Bowie National Historic Site was a hot and dry experience, and in many ways that added to the feeling of the place itself. The long walk across the desert landscape gave us a small sense of the isolation and harsh conditions faced by those who lived and fought here. As we moved through the heat and silence, […]
Pinnacles National Park
On a trip to California to teach, Erin and I carved out time for a hike at Pinnacles National Park. These small windows of exploration enrich our journeys to teach. We didn’t know what to expect. Pinnacles isn’t one of the big-name parks. Pinnacles rise from the rolling hills of central California. The dramatic rock formations […]
Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Visiting Canyon de Chelly was a unique experience from the moment we arrived. We stayed in a hotel just outside the canyon, and the environment was a bit different: dogs and even horses were roaming freely. It was clear that the rhythms of life here followed different customs. The canyon lies within the Navajo Nation, the largest Native […]
