Arizona Turns 100 Today!!

Arizona Turns 100 Today!!

That's right today, Arizona celebrates the 100th Anniversary of Statehood. Hard to imagine the state is so young when it is so rich in history. For todays celebration, a fun filled agenda includes Activities, Events and Black Tie event.

Some fun facts about Arizona:

The date for statehood was originally supposed to be February 12, 1912, but that was Abraham Lincoln's birthday. February 13 was thought to be unlucky, so Valentines Day it is!

Did you know that there was a "Skirmish at Picacho Pass?" This was the only Civic War (1862) encounter in AZ.

Arizona's original capitol was Masillo, Prescott, then Tucson, then Prescott.

The original name for Scottsdale was Orangedale.

(I chose this You Tube for it's entertainment value!)

Do you know the 5 C's of Arizona? Answer: Copper, Climate, Citrus, Cattle & Cotton

The first building in AZ to have Air Conditioning was the Westward Ho Hotel in 1929.

All of the military bases (except Davis Monthan in Tucson) in the US were built by Del Webb, who moved to AZ in 1930. He was also part owner of the Yankees and brought them to Phoenix to practice, hence the start up of the Cactus League Spring Training baseball league.

Isabella Greenway was the first woman to elected to Congress, 1933, from Phoenix. Of course when you're a bridesmaid for Eleanor Roosevelt, that might have had something to do with it!

1934, Phoenix was officially named "The Valley of the Sun."

1941 The Battleship Arizona sinks killing 1200 sailors.

Arizona receives Colorado River Water in 1944, but how to move it?

Arizona is home to several microchip companies due to the weather conditions.

The largest single shopping center opens in Phoenix, 1955, west of Dallas.

Phoenix Suns play their first game in 1968. The first basket was made by Dick Van Arsdale, Phoenix resident, real estate broker and now an artist!

The Central Arizona project is started, 1968, to bring water to Phoenix from the Colorado River.

Raul Castro was the First Mexican-American Governor in Arizona, 1975.

Current Phoenix resident and Former Chief Justice Sandra Day O'Connor becomes first woman appointed to the US Supreme Court, 1981. After retiring, she has created a website dedicated to educating children grades 5 - 9 about government on her site, icivics.org.

When Pope John Paul II visited Phoenix in 1987, Sparky the Sun Devil Mascott was draped at every display and the Stadium was temporarily named the Sun Angel Stadium.

Rose Mofford was Arizona's first female Governor in 1988, after Governor Mecham's impeachment.

The Top 5 Elective Offices are all won by women in 1998!

42% of Arizona land is Federal land.

The largest nuclear plant in the United States is the Palo Verde and the only one on land.