Pinal County Historical Museum & Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Arizona

Next we headed through Arizona, stopping between Phoenix and Tucson at Desert Shadows RV Resort in Casa Grande.

We decided to spend a couple of hours washing the motorhome.

The next day someone came to make a minor repair on one of our Dometic roof air conditioners.

We found out that Arizona is a large producer of cotton.

Marlon stands beside a huge bale of cotton.

Next, we visited the Pinal County Historical Museum in Florence, Arizona, which is known for some unique collections.

One such collection is a large assortment of furniture made from various types of cactus.

Since Florence has about 10,000 residents and about 14,000 prisoners, the museum has also come to be known for its prison-related items.

This gallows trapdoor was actually used for hangings.

The nooses displayed on the wall are the actual ropes used for all the hangings which ever took place in Pinal County. Ropes were used for only one hanging, with the exception of four prisoners who felt like brothers and requested the same rope be used for them all.

The dual electric chair in front came in handy when two executions were scheduled on the same day.

Next we visited Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in nearby Coolidge, Arizona.

This "Great House" was occupied by the ancient Sonoran Desert people about 700 years ago. It is protected from the sun by a canopy.

Marlon points at another ancient structure.

Along with the "Great House", you can also view ancient ball courts where it is believed games were played with hard rubber balls.

You can also view at least a few cacti.

The museum at the National Monument features a model of the "Great House" as it would have appeared in the 14th century.

For more pictures, click here .

To be continued...

Las Vegas, Nevada Part 3

Today we found the Pinball Hall of Fame. The admission is free but bring money to play.

Over 100 pinball machines and video games are included in the collection. Nearly brand-new machines and vintage machines dating back to 1948 can be played.

Doug plays one of the vintage pinball machines.

A vintage popcorn machine serves up fresh non-vintage popcorn for one quarter.

The pop machine literally drops the can even from the top row. A sign warns thirsty buyers to "Open Can Slowly". Duh...

The oldest pinball machine on display in the building is this Ron-Dee-Voo game from 1948.

The Pinball Hall of Fame is located across the street from the recently closed Liberace Museum.

The museum was the anchor of its own strip mall for over 20 years.

Nice picture of the Las Vegas sky.

Looking down on the Las Vegas Strip from one of the skywalks.

We have seen several Cirque Du Soleil shows in the past so tonight we went to see Zumanity at New York New York. Entertaining? Yes. Favorite? No.

For more pictures, click here .

To be continued...

The Fremont Experience, Las Vegas, Nevada Part 2

Tonight we went back downtown to see The Fremont Experience again.

I think I need a drink.

We spotted some celebrities...

some musicians...

some famous Sesame Street stars...

some dead people and some guy who bites off bat's heads...

some superheroes...

the film crew of the tv show Cops...

some brave men and women who left this tower on an 800-foot zipline at speeds of up to 35 mph...

and a lot of drunks.

In the Fremont East District, you can view several old neon signs. Take a look.

In the struggling shopping and entertainment complex, Neonopolis, several more neon signs are on display.

Here's a video of The Fremont Experience.

For more pictures, click here .

To be continued...