Poston Butte and the Father of Arizona

Looking over the town of Florence, Arizona, right off Highway 79 (once US Highway 80), is Poston Butte. Being the only high spot for miles, Poston Butte easily stands out from its surroundings. But it is what is on top of Poston Butte that brought us here.
Charles D. Poston is considered to be the father of Arizona. He arrived in the area when the territory still belonged to Mexico, and was the driving force in Arizona separating from New Mexico. He became the first member of Congress for the Arizona territory, founded Colorado City, and became a government official in Florence, where the mountain that now bears his name is located.
It is on Poston Butte that Charles Poston tried to build a temple to an ancient sun god, and where year's after his death, a pyramid-shaped tomb for the father of Arizona was built.
In this video we climb Poston Butte, talk about its history, and visit the tomb of Charles Poston.
Poston Butte is located at 33.061387975971634, -111.39974423178384
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[@TeddsPicks]

Hey Steve ... I must say I don't understand how come you don't have millions of followers ... What you're doing Bridges the gap between the educational system and the youth that are tied to their digital devices. Thank you so much for what you do ... Great job

[@lindagrimmett6564]

Wouldn’t it be something if a school picked this up and it was part of the curriculum once a week!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you, I appreciate all the kind words.

[@thecuriousvida]

Because just look at the top trending videos on KZbin and you'll see what is promoted here. Hopefully more ppl will appreciate this type of content going forward ✌

[@mawi1172]

Cuz he don't kiss the girls cuz he's married! 🤔🤔🤔🤔 Otherwise he'd have millions. 😂😅😊😂😢😮😊😊😊😊😊

[@mattban4136]

Agreed.

[@johnnie2638]

OMG! I can't believe you did a video on F mountain! I was born in Florence. Back in the 70s me & my friends would ride our bikes out to F mountain & climb to the top where Poston's tomb is. We'd roll old tires we found in the desert down the side of the mountain just to watch them roll & bounce all the way down. Or we'd throw our frisbees to see who could make theirs sail the furthest. It's quite a treat to see anything on Florence on YT. I remember once me & a friend when we were kids about 12 or 13 hiked to the top of F mountain. My friend sat down on a stone & I was looking out at the surrounding vista when I turned to him & looked down & right between his feet was this huge gila monster! He looked down, let out a shriek & jumped about 5 feet in the air. I laughed so hard. When I was a freshman in High School as part of freshman initiation all the boys were bussed out to F mountain to white-wash all the stones that make up the "F". The freshman girls had to decorate the auditorium for the freshman dance. I didn't live just in Florence but also in Casa Grande & Show Low. But my family moved back to Florence in the mid-70s & I finished high school there. I'd like to see a video on C mountain just to the north of Coolidge. It's taller than F mountain by a good margin and I've always wanted to hike up to the top although it looks like a much steeper climb. Anyway, thanks for a very enjoyable video! Go Gophers!

[@zemog1025]

LOL! Did the same back in the 70's as well. We used to hike from Florence across the farm fields and desert out to F Mountain for youthful adventure. Sometimes we had to float on logs across a raging Gila River and rappel down into mineshafts.

[@johnnie2638]

@@zemog1025 OMG, you went down the mine shafts? That would scare the bejeezers out of me. I lived on Park Street back in the day near the Cunningham farm. Do you remember old stores like Boree's Market or Mandel's or Strube's? Strube's was a 5 & 10. Mandel's was a clothing store at the end of old Main near the old hotel. I remember I liked Boree's because even back in the 70s it was an old store. The wooden floors creaked. It just had a great old atmosphere to it. It was kinda near the old Courthouse with the clock tower. I used to stop at Boree's market on my way walking home from school and buy a hot pickle or a fried burrito or just a candy bar like a Clark Bar or a Zagnut Bar to munch on my way home. Florence was just a little one cow town back then. Last time I was there was a few tears back after my dad passed. It's grown considerably. That's too bad. Now that I'm a senior I miss that small town quality. It was almost like a Mayberry in the desert. But everything changes I guess.

[@susanherman3707]

I live in Florence and have hiked F Mountain several times and learned things from this video that I never knew. Thank you Steve!!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Wow, thanks. Its a great hike.

[@debbiesroommate]

Learned alot in 7 minutes

[@HippyViewAdventures]

I miss Arizona, I grew up in Globe and I used to love going to see the historic site's around the state. You should do a video of Canyon De Chelly in Chinle Arizona, it's amazing

[@swankles3877]

Anytime Steve posts a new video you know you're in for a treat 😊

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thanks!

[@jerrysullivan8424]

@@SidetrackAdventures The only video that I did not like was when you all stayed overnight in the hotel cave. it was spooky There is no way that I would have stayed overnight in any deep cave. :)

[@TheStuport]

Very cool video and story Steve! The amount of research and time for editing is not lost on your Fans...we appreciate you Delivering The Goods. You are so right in saying that Mr. Poston really sis live an extremely interesting life! I'm actually stoked that the whole Pyramid Tomb of Mr. Poston was moved from Phoenix to Florence back in 1925 and that was no small task in todays modern World, let alone 100 years ago! Awesome Drone Shots and Those Views from up on top of Poston Butte are just amazing! This was as usual such a fun Field Trip and thank you for my seat! Happy Easter to ALL in The Sidetrack Adventures Community!🙏 Cheers From COW-lumbus, Ohio MOO 👋

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

[@dezertraider]

WX LOOKS GREAT STEVE,THANK YOU SO MUCH.HAVEN'T SEEN BLUE SKY LIKE THAT IN VERY LONG TIME. GREAT STORY..SAFE TRAVELS..

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thanks. The blue sky left and we got rained on later that day.

[@shable1436]

I loved Arizona when I was there, from Tucson to sierra Vista, to Yuma, Phoenix, to Grand canyon, they geology and geography are so rich, compared to my home in Appalachian VA, it blew my mind that you could just walk to an overlook on a mountain and there was no rails, ropes or anything but little signs that said at your own risk beyond this point, and walk right up to an edge of thousands of feet down. And the saguaro cactuses below Tuscon in the senora desert was unreal, the tarantula holes, and snakes, scorpions, cactus birds all was crazy to see. I wanted to move there, and live in one of those plastered houses with air conditioning in every room 😂. Edit: I know it doesn't pertain to this vid, but my mom is from a place near my home in VA called Austinville, the same person who Austin Texas is named after, so back in the day, all sorts of Eastern and Appalachian ppl traveled out west for various reasons for pioneer living, I think we have gotten soft sense then and running out of unexplored places to push to

[@hotrodandrube9119]

Crazy that he traveled the world in the 1860s-70s, after being shipwrecked in Sonora and still hiking to Arizona. Thanks for the information and the video, you're a badass! Keep exploring!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Yeah, a trip to China and Egypt in the 1870s was a pretty big undertaking too.

[@ivanhannel]

That is just what I told my girlfriend. I repeated those exact facts down to calling him a badass and making her see his photo in the video, ha.

[@mharris1957]

As a historian I really enjoy your work. Roadside history should be taught is schools. At some universities there is a class called Public History but it basically teaches the process of signage and how to apply. What you do goes beyond the places that have been discovered and "signed". It's a very welcome slice of history.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you, I really appreciate that.

[@renoholland7090]

We live in the area and drive by there frequently. We did not know the story though. Thank you Steve.

[@Rfk1966]

your channel has a lot of lesser-known, but interesting, things to see. Thank you

[@kurtweiand7086]

Once again it's Saturday night 🌙 with Steve's adventures. Thanks so much!

[@gregboyden564]

thanks for another historical video. I really like these obscure stories about these pioneers that shaped America.

[@timlavance867]

Always interesting...I'm from NJ so these places you visit are all new to me

[@salruiz8066]

As a young kid growing up in Florence, we climbed that hill many times. Hunted varmints all around the area there. For a brief time, after getting out of the service, I worked at the small pilot plant across the road from F mountain. The F on the mountain is kept up using lime and water as an initiation by the incoming Freshmen of Florence high school. Maybe they still do, I don't know, but that's what we did starting high school. A lot of memories. The last time I was up there was after a breakup with an old girlfriend. I just sat up there and pondered my life. Somehow, it made the break up easier to get over...thanks for the memories.. it's been well over 50 years since that time. 😎

[@boomtownrat5106]

His tomb reminds me of Hi Jolly’s (Philip Tedro/Hadji Ali) gravesite in Quartzsite, AZ. Hi Jolly was one of the men hired to handle the camels during the US governments experiment with them in the Southwest. I’ve got to tell you, Steve, you’re a better person than I am. I would’ve taken that drone of yours and stayed on that desert floor as I flew that drone up to the gravesite, so I can take a look. Let’s just say, this old gray mare she ain’t what she used to be. 😢

[@SidetrackAdventures]

It does look the Hi Jolly tomb. They died around the same time too, I wonder if pyramid tombs were just a trend at the time. In next week's video you'll see my fly the drone somewhere rather than walking haha

[@boomtownrat5106]

@@SidetrackAdventures look forward to it.

[@johnnyfreedom3437]

I really enjoyed that steve, what a unique man! Most people wouldn't choose to spend eternity alone at the top of a mountain! But it may last a lot longer! And I love the little bits of History with your videos!

[@lifewithjosef]

As an aside, the historic downtown of Florence was used in the movie "Murphy's Romance," starring James Gardner and Sally Field. As always...

[@paulg6268]

Just hiked this about 2 weeks ago.....the Pinal County Historical Museum is nearby too.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I missed the museum unfortunately because we just made a quick stop here on our way to another destination and wanted to make sure we had enough time there. I have to get back and check that out.

[@wayawolf1967]

As a Kentucky citizen myself I like the KY-AZ connection in this bit of history. My KY-AZ connection is my wife who is Navajo from Kayenta, AZ.

[@tttyuhbbb9823]

💐🌻🌸🏵🌵🌴🌵🌹🌺🌷🌻💐 For you Navajo wifey! 😊😇😊

[@dennisammann9104]

You sure get around to the off beat places. I never heard of Mr. Poston, the Father of AZ. We learn so much about SW USA from you. Thanks ‘Sidetrack’ Steve. 😁👍👍🚙🏜🌵

[@josephbingham1255]

Nice video. Florence is an out of the way town. Good to see it has something worth seeing besides its famous state prison.

[@milt6208]

You mean infamous state prison to some.

[@gilgarcia3008]

I grew up in Arizona, and Wickenburg is my family’s home town, and I never heard a word about this Poston!

[@joaomotta1501]

Thank u for posting! I m here because i m on the final chapters of Mangas Coloradas by Edwin Sweeney! During the final years of Mangas live, Poston was a civil servant reponsible for maintaining of the Arizona Territory (1853) until 1862 when he went to Washington meet with Abraham Lincoln to officialize the Arizona Territory, explaining him the wealthy in minerals of the territory, even produced a silver inkwell and sent to him.

[@sjh60633]

Interesting stuff, especially the note on Reagan. I'll have to track that episode down.

[@1a1u0g9t4s2u]

As other viewers have already commented for this video, This would be a nice lesson plan to teach local history to local schools. It is the next thing to personalizing history of the State of Arizona when you are not necessarily related to Poston. Great work and looking forward to more episodes related to Arizona and the three 'C's. Thanks for sharing.

[@QueenofFreaks]

We climbed this and I had no idea!!! That makes that hike so much more worth it. If you ever go hiking up to see the pyramid- take the back way down- much more scenic and tame unlike the way up.

[@joewenzel5142]

Teenagers didn't spray paint graffiti on it - nice. Except for that one spot with green paint.

[@ksr1177]

Another cool video and history lesson and that is differently a pretty view. Thanks again.

[@skydiverclassc2031]

Things you find out in the desert. Cool video. I was impressed by the effort made by Mr. Poston to build a road (now only a trail) to the top of the butte. Rough going! Flip flops and sandals need not apply.

[@edpyle5429]

Can't believe you trod that "road" without saying a word about its condition. Must have made the trip all the more difficult. Thanks for the trip.

[@Charles-qq7vf]

The flattest part of my state! Every passenger of my cars has heard the exclaimation "we're in Mexico" as we cross the Gila river bridge on I-10... Never been to the top, though!!! Awesome video, as usual!

[@paulsmodels]

Thanks for the tour!

[@EMSmith480]

In my backyard and I love local history!

[@kevinfranck6520]

You should have made reference to Postone Arizona in La Paz County along the Colorado River. Must be a connection. During WWII it was the site of a huge Japanese Relocation camp.

[@Just__a_Guy]

Steve! Love your vids. Please keep them coming!

[@jerroldkazynski5480]

That was a great day for a hike! Good bit of history too. Thanks!

[@Lizerator]

Another great one! I am so excited to have found your channel.

[@aqueousmoments]

What a great piece of history, wow!

[@craignevels3530]

Another great video, keep 'em coming!

[@BlackCat-aka-Jewels]

I just found you! We are brand new to your channel. Hubby and I travel all over for historical ghost towns ect. So happy to have found you! Great content...filled with history and location. Well done!❤

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@Last_one_before_I_go]

Great story. Thanks for the work you did in bringing it to us.

[@cynergy4]

Fascinating story, thanks for sharing it!

[@UniusPoenitentis]

So interesting! Thank you!

[@timothyotoole8035]

Thank you for posting theses videos. I appreciate all the hard work you do to bring us the forgotten treasure's that I wouldn't be able to see or know about

[@timjones3094]

Always well researched and fun. Thanks

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thanks for watching!

[@ragman1969]

I've just stumbled upon this channel and I have to say it's one of the best I've found on YT. Fascinating subject matter that I feel is slowly being forgotten about thanks to social media and the like. New subscriber from Australia.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thanks, I appreciate that a lot.

[@JP-su8bp]

Another solid tour of a lesser known site. Thank you.

[@AlanShirtsink]

Great storytelling and pacing. Mahalo

[@evopwrmods]

As always consistency, much props. Always educated, entertained with your content. very interesting video this one was. Makes me want to dig deeper. Hope you can leverage the Ai future to grow into as great a channel as your are now. Look forward to seeing it happen...

[@ElwoodAndersonNV]

Wow! That was an interesting video. Thanks for all the research.

[@shochikubai8084]

Interesting. Tks for posting this video.

[@leonajameson8902]

Another great video

[@mikewhitt4602]

Nice informative video Steve. Love your work!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@brentnearhood8874]

Thanks! Steve I have friends in Rio Verde

[@brucebarnes9638]

Excellent video Steve, your research is amazing. Having lived in Flagstaff in the 1950's, Arizona has so much interesting history.

[@thecuriousvida]

Great video, story and view bud! Keep doing what you do!! 👍✌ - Chadd

[@ellafields9424]

So much good history. I also like some of the interesting comments about This n That. More good information & like hearing of some of locals tid bits. All 👍 Happy Trails Keep the 📷 rollin

[@nicksmacro]

I live a couple miles from there - It's the first "mountain" we climbed after moving to AZ.

[@AaronWebsterII]

History has always been my favorite subject since high school. Your "road side history" tells the stories of things people may not get to see or hear about. Thank you for the videos.

[@1949ala]

Excellent video and very informative.

[@edwardlatzy7812]

Enjoyed the story very much I drive by Poston two or three times a winter from Quartzsite to Parker never knew the whole story till now thank you

[@stfuyoutube423]

I just stumbled upon your channel and It’s great. Terrific videos.

[@davidcroft2192]

Your site is perfect for that you give me geography and history. You do in a way which is interesting and educational. For that I thank you.

[@marciodossantosmanganelli2542]

Conteúdo Histórico apresentado com belíssimas paisagens! Grato, Steve! 😊👍🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@vvarietyshow]

I've heard of this place but never saw it. Really cool!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

If you find yourself in the area its definitely worth a quick hike up to check it out.

[@zackgeorge2575]

Interesting Video! Thank You!!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Glad you liked it!

[@mawi1172]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ another great video Steve. Love it. 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you. I appreciate all the support!

[@drecic1]

Super, j'ai appris un peu plus sur l'Histoire de l'état de l'Arizona et de son fondateur.

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Great piece of history Steve, and what a beautiful area. I haven’t seen DV Days. Heard quite a lot about it. Have to put it on the watch list.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I think it wasn't available for awhile for whatever reason and now only seems to be on some streaming service I never heard of.

[@ciah63]

Your videos are fab! 👍😊

[@davidchristy7566]

Thanks love the history lesson

[@markshietze4783]

awesome video ! we like the History lessons ... keep up you good work ! ❤🎉😊

[@DunnFun]

You're in my back yard! Another great video.

[@robertwells6394]

Great video. Enjoy your adventuures!!

[@whitsixkiller]

I am born and raised lived my whole life in Arizona I'm 55 years old and I've never heard the name Poston until today.

[@kyleohara8700]

Cool video Steve! Thanks for taking us along, I live an hours drive away. Would love to have you visit Maricopa, AZ. Do you have a PO Box that fans can send stuff like books or tips on where you might want to go or things you might be interested in to? I'd love to send you a couple books on this history around Maricopa or Phoenix if you were interested.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thanks. I'll definitely be back in that area later this year. If you email me I can give you my PO Box.

[@noahingram8052]

This is so cool

[@SpanishEclectic]

It's great you are catching so much beautiful footage of the winter greenery and wildflowers in Arizona. So pretty! Interesting story! Poston was quite a character. Strange how many mystical beliefs became popular in the late 1800s. It was fun to hear the story as you hiked up the 'road'. :)

[@SidetrackAdventures]

The flowers were great. Along the highway they were really blooming and made it such a beautiful drive.

[@CDRiley]

Cool video, sir!

[@michaelsimonds2632]

Thanks!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you so much. Really appreciate it.

[@tedmaas3588]

Thx 4 the history lesson...

[@Corgis175]

Interesting character and you are right what a view.

[@dr.a006]

This is just south of where I lived in QC for a few years. Wish I could’ve explored more places like this while I was there!

[@omni_0101]

I live a couple miles from here but didn't have a clue. Thanks!

[@conniewojahn6445]

Another great, well done, interesting video of a bit of sort of wacky history in SW America. Thank you.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@pisacksen]

Awesome. Real close to Chandler.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Yeah, not that far away.

[@CactusAtlas]

Another great video! I saw another comment about pyramid shaped tombs and there really are a lot in the state/area it feels. Ed Schieffelin (to some degree), Hunt's Tomb... I guess it must have been very common at one point.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I wonder if it had anything to do with King Tut's tomb being found around that time. Seems like more than a coincidence to have so many pyramids.

[@stevenrollins8379]

There is one in Phoenix it is Governor Hunt Tomb over looking Phoenix and the city zoo in the papago park.

[@RicardoGonzalez-ww3ov]

Some amazing history in Arizona hope you make it to Show low the town named from the turn of a card !

[@charleshaggard4341]

Great job.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you.

[@yamaracer991]

2 👍🏼 up sir, great video

[@brianbassett4379]

I've ridden to the top to get high many times. When the sun drops the marker holds the heat for hours.

[@brendabryant6347]

That was interesting.

[@boo-sees-n-says]

I love your historical tid bits of the southwest

[@deddie4645]

Nice

[@gator83261]

Good video.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thanks!

[@ivanhannel]

Lived in AZ for 40 years--no idea. Darn.

[@user-kw1ku8fh1o]

There is a well preserved grave site west of Tubac , in the Arivaca area next to an old silver mine that is related to this Poston.