If you’ll be in Phoenix, AZ for the annual CLDA conference, chances are you’ll be flying in to the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. But in times gone by, you would have traveled by stagecoach or rail. Steamboats also played a role in Arizona’s early transportation history.
Historic Trails
There are a number of well-known, historic trails in the southwestern region. In the mid-1850s, gold prospectors flocked to the Apache Pass, which ran from western New Mexico to Tucson. The Gila Route and the Santa Cruz Route are other famous examples of early trails. If you were an early pioneer or gold prospector using one of these trails, you probably would have traveled on a stagecoach. This was a dusty, grimy, uncomfortable way to travel. However, it was also relatively safer to travel in numbers. If you weren’t traveling via stagecoach, you probably would have ridden a horse.
Historic Railroads
Railroads arrived in Arizona in 1877. That was when the Southern Pacific opened up in Yuma. It finally completed its line to Tucson in 1880, and during the following years, 76 different railroads established themselves in the state. For people accustomed to traveling slowly by stagecoach or horseback, the railroads opened up a world of possibilities. It dramatically increased resources for pioneers and gold prospectors, enabling them to access supplies ferried in by rail. The railroads also shipped out tons of ore from mines within the state. As more settlers arrived, towns sprang up near the rails.
Historic Steamboats
The Colorado River extends from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado through the Grand Canyon and down to Lake Mead. In 1852, the first steamboat made its journey on this river, frightening the local Yuma Indians as it belched smoke up from its smokestack. In the years to come, residents came to rely on the steamboats to deliver supplies and haul freight.
Xcel Delivery Services is an industry leader in modern transportation and logistics. We’re excited to welcome CLDA conference attendees to our beautiful city of Phoenix, AZ. If you have any questions, give us a call at (602) 368-1300.
