Grab a Shovel, It's Getting Deep in Here: Field Trip!

**Another great post first published in my third and newest Exploring blog page. All about Exploring Amazing Arizona through thoughts and of course pictures. Please share this page if you enjoy what you see. http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/ **

Field Trip!

A huge greetings from Sunny Tucson to all of my readers! I have so many posts in the works for this very page. Many of them from a great little city named Tucson. My buddy and best friend "Professor Getty" is coming for a visit next month and we will be doing lots of Exploring and possibly terrorizing of the local residents. This and much more will be posted with lots of pictures of course. For much more Exploring please check out my first and longest running blog page by far at www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com This page just hit 32,000 views today--so please check it out and find out what all the fuss is about. Today a quick post from Tucson several months back when I joined our youngest on a school field trip to some museums on campus. Since the kiddos all return to school again this Thursday--Happy day for us adults! I must say this trip was about three months ago now. The trip was very enjoyable for Exploring, but much of the time the adults just seemed to be chasing there group of kids around. Maybe not the best places to visit with ten year olds---I believe most of the wonder was lost on them. Luckily my group of kids only had four and one was my own-so I could yell at him and have him help me round up the others. Because of this I did not get as many shots as I had wished. That and because there were a lot of kids--and I really did not want any pictures with other peoples kids in them. The trip did make me want to visit campus again and Explore. I have been on some great college campuses across the country and the old buildings and such seem to always make for some neat pictures.

We first got guided tours of this great museum. The tour was very good although for how much there was to see--we moved rather rapidly through it all even with the young-ins short attention spans.

Every corner of this state seems to be full or rich history.

Rich and interesting history.

I will not ruin the story's by trying to share any of them here. Because I will get them wrong.

Sorry about the extra blurry picture.

I was rushing through this part of the building chasing after some kiddos, when I snagged this quick shot.

Any guesses what this very old devise is??

As a hint---if you were ever put in one--you were in for life. It is medical.

That is all I can say for now.

I will reveal what this is near the end of this very post.

First mini van?

Arizona's first state police car--no really.

Upstairs was a large area filled with hands on exhibits.

This is a model of an old time convenience store long before Wally World took over your town. Here I have to note that the yellow boxes in the picture hold coffee!

A large part of the museum was dedicated to mining. With full sized equipment to check out and a mine shaft to go into.

This section is relatively new--sadly we had to rush through the area to keep on our tour schedule.

Once your eyes get used to the light again some great landscaping can be found outside also.

I believe the best part of the tour was while the kids were all seated in front of a life sized oxen pulling an old wooden card with wood wheels. The ox was also mostly anatomy correct and the kids questions soon focused on what was hanging down under the great ox.

Our tour guide was about 80--he simply stated that this was a boy ox and that was a penis --and told the kids to move onto other questions. Many hands went down after this announcement.

After this it was time for some home packed lunches in the grass.

And for the kids to run off some energy!

Than we entered the Natural History museum on campus.

Just outside.

Much of this building is devoted to Native Americans.

There is a full room of great photos of native dwellings of the past.

And a full theatre to enjoy.

Another huge part of the building is devoted to pottery. Housing one of the largest collections in the World. Above is just part of the display case leading into this section. You can view all shapes and designs of pottery. There is also a large viewing window into were the scientists piece together the pieces they find.

Peace pipe of old?

This section also has a computer system that lets you roam around and view all of the logged in pieces of art. You can electronically move shelf upon shelf and Explore the thousands of amazing pieces that call this home.

OK boys and girls--we are nearing the end of this today's tour and blog post. Have you had a chance to Google what this contraption is? It is an Iron Lung.

Three gold stars for you if you guessed right!

Two frowny face stickers for you if you have ever needed one of these.