Walk Where They Walked

In this issue of True West we are launching a new history campaign—actually more of a crusade—to Walk Where They Walked. We are going to encourage you and everyone you know to get out and experience history firsthand, by seeking out the actual ground where history happened. You will be amazed at what you pick up when you simply walk where they walked.

Yes, I am excited to be on the actual site of gunfight. When you get to the Anza Trailhead parking lot (see map below) walk east, across the normally dry Santa Cruz Riverbed and about 200 yards north of the bridge, on the eastern bank of the river, in one of the many mesquite thickets is where the fight took place.
Photo by Greg Scott

So get ready to experience history on a whole new level. For example, to better understand what actually happened to Willie B. Rude on July 14 of 1861 (see page 44), we are going to give you specific directions, so you can almost literally put yourself in his shoes. Look how happy it made me:

In March of 2024, Stuart Rosebrook and I met historian Greg Scott at the Green Valley post office, and we trekked out to the area where Rude made his brave stand 163 years before. When we got to the site, I could definitely sense the desperation he must have felt having to defend such an inferior position. And, I certainly felt his presence as I stood on the immediate ground he chose to fight to the death on.