Photo by Rick Whipple
SIERRA VISTA — The traveling exhibit “Cochise County History on the Move,” part of the celebration for Arizona’s Centennial, made its way from the Cochise College Douglas Campus to the Sierra Vista Campus earlier this month.
Photo by Rick Whipple
The outdoor exhibit showcases 33 nearly life-size photo cutouts of historical figures made from images that came from the county’s museums and archives. It’s on display near the main entrance of the campus, near the Library and Learning Commons buildings.
Rebecca Orozco, history and political science instructor at Cochise College, is representing Cochise College within the Cochise County Arizona Centennial Committee, which was formed in an effort to share Cochise County’s history as it fits with the state of Arizona’s history, as well as to create a countywide celebration that recognizes our shared heritage.
In Orozco’s presentation to the college’s governing board at its December meeting, she said members of the county’s centennial committee had to adhere to a few guidelines when forming an idea for the display. It had to be a project that could be enjoyed by all, and it could not compete with potential funding for local centennial celebrations. It also had to be a project that highlighted local museums, historical societies and libraries.
Photo by Rick Whipple
The traveling exhibit honors important people in Cochise County who influenced the history of the Arizona Territory and the state of Arizona through the 20th and early 21st centuries. These figures will make their way to schools, libraries, public parks and community festivals throughout the centennial year, according to the county committee’s website, cochise100.org.
The display started at the Cochise County Fair in September and moved through Willcox and Tombstone before planting at the Douglas Campus for the month of December. Next, it’s on to Bisbee during February, then to many different towns across Cochise County each month through December.
Among the 33 figures are Rex Allen, Ellen “Nellie” Cashman, Chief Alchesay, Major General Emil Lenzner, Edward Lawrence Schieffelin and Dr. James S. Douglas. Each figure is sponsored by an individual, group or organization. Cochise College sponsored the Albert R. “A.R.” Spikes figure. Spikes served 22 years in the Arizona legislature and was instrumental in the establishment of the state’s community college system.
Visit the Sierra Vista Campus to view the display through the end of January, and stop by the campus library to pick up a copy of “Come Face to Face with History,” a companion booklet that tells the stories of each historical figure. The free booklet is also available at museums, historical societies and other libraries across the county.
You can also visit the Cochise County Arizona Centennial Committee’s website to read historical figures’ stories and share your own.
Feb. 14 marks the state of Arizona’s 100th birthday.
Photo by Rick Whipple