Tempe Public Library

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Specters of the Past –Ghost Towns That Built Arizona

Presented by Jay Mark

This program is made possible by Arizona Humanities.

In addition to an entertaining, visual display of the communities, towns and settlements that contributed to the early growth of the state, this presentation also focuses on respect for these diminishing historic resources.   Most of the photographs represent a comprehensive exploration of Arizona ghost towns made by Mr. Mark in the 1960’s and 1970’s. This occurred just prior to a major period of incursion and destruction by off-road and all-terrain vehicles. Many sites are no longer extant or have been seriously degraded since, over the last fifty of sixty years.  This presentation emphasizes the need to respect these valuable, but fragile and vulnerable resources. Most are on public land with little or no protection afforded.   From Mr. Mark’s personal library of nearly one thousand photographs of about three dozen ghost towns, the presentation features ghost towns from the area in which it is made.  Attend to earn Summer Reading points, click here to learn how!

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