Exploring the Union Mine in North Phoenix

There are many reasons why people choose to move to Arizona today. The mild winters, safety from most natural disasters, and a lower cost of living than California continue to draw people to Arizona from all over the country and the world.

As we look back on 100 years of statehood, it's important to remember the reasons why people came here in the first place. One of the most common reasons was simply: gold.

The search for the soft, yellow metal has lured countless numbers of people to search every corner of the state. The evidence of this gold-lust can still be found today in the form of mines, holes, shafts, and adits.

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Arizona Celebrates Centennial - 100 Years of Statehood

It was on this historic day in 1912 that President William Howard Taft signed the papers to admit Arizona Territory as the 48th State of the United States of America. Today, one hundred years later, people all over the state are celebrating a century of statehood.

The Arizona Centennial Foundation has been hard at work promoting this special date all throughout the state for the past several months. They were also a major sponsor of the Arizona Best Fest, which took place this past weekend and featured a variety of exhibits, music, food, and attractions in honor of the state's history.

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World's Largest Mobile Crane at Intel's Chandler Facility

Although this is the North Phoenix Blog, I acknowledge that important things happen in other parts of Phoenix and Arizona all the time. Sometimes, very big things happen.

If you've been in the Chandler area recently, you may have seen the gigantic crane at the Intel plant. You may have even thought to yourself "Wow, that's a big crane." It is more than just big, it is one of the largest mobile cranes in the world!

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Phoenix Christmas Light Photos 2011

As a native Arizonan, I feel like I've never had the chance to get the full Christmas experience. While songs on the radio talk about sleigh rides, chestnuts roasting on an open fire and a White Christmas, I have never experienced any of those things.

Due to the climate here in the Sonoran Desert, the Phoenix area does not get snow. As a kid, one of our family traditions was to pile in the car and drive around to look at Christmas lights.

You see, when there is no snow, some folks try to make up for it by putting up a few extra strings of lights. And then there are the people who go completely and totally overboard with lights, illuminating the entire neighborhood like Times Square. Those houses are my favorite.

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Copper Chopper Custom Motorcycle by Paul Yaffe

The State of Arizona's 100-year anniversary is just around the corner! If you have been out and about lately, you may have noticed that the Arizona Centennial Foundation has selected a rather unusual mascot for the state's 100th birthday.

Rather than choose a mascot, person, or event that defines Arizona's history, the Foundation has selected a custom built "chopper" bike, created by Arizona resident and bike builder Paul Yaffe.

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