This week marks the annual gathering of the Western History Association, where historians come from all corners to discuss the history of the American West. For the first time ever, I am going to attend and am looking forward to some of the panels that are scheduled.
The conference is being held in Tucson, Arizona, and that provides me with opportunities other than listening to other historians. I will also be able to visit some of my favorite historic sites. There will definitely be an excursion to Tombstone and Bisbee, old mining towns that gained some measure of fame.
Perhaps, I will also make it over the Old Tucson Studios, filming location of many westerns. Some may not think that is a historic site, but I beg to differ. The movies made at that location have affected the views of the American West for generations. Many people got their history from those films, and it is the job of historians to weed through that information and get to the heart of the matter. Westerns have affected our view and knowledge of the West in a tremendous way.
All of that is great, but I am really excited that my wife is joining me for a few days. She will relax while I am in sessions, but I am excited about the other part. I get to show her some of the places that I have researched and some of the places where my parents took me when I was a kid.
I will return with a post about the trip, and that post will include some good pictures.
SBI: A Thinning Crowd 
Enjoy Tucson…! Don’t miss Congress Hotel…(famous gangsters stayed there) and take a stroll down Fourth Ave.. Have fun :).
I will definitely do those. Thanks
Missed Tucson. Maybe next time. But loved Tombstone 🙂
Tombstone is an awesome place. I can’t wait to get there.
Sounds like a blast!
Will the conference focus on Tuscon since that’s where it is, or will it be more far-ranging, and is it for a specific historical period?
Have fun!
It’s more wide ranging. The theme is “Vital Signs: Earth, Power, Lives”, and that can include almost anything. It’s been fun so far.