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By Jack Mount, TEC #3284
The Grand Canyon of northern Arizona is one of the great natural wonders of the world. Its beauty and grandeur attract thousands of visitors annually. The numerous tourist-oriented enterprises in the Grand Canyon area provide elongated penny collectors with smashing machines with some outstanding penny designs.
We will start our “penny pinching” tour in the mountain town of Williams, Arizona. Situated at an elevation of 6,750 ft., Williams grew as a railroad town and later became an important stop for travelers on old U. S. Highway 66. Today, Williams retains much of its historical look and is now a major gateway town to the Grand Canyon and the headquarters of the Grand Canyon Railway. Our first stop will be at the Railway’s restored depot on Grand Canyon Blvd. It has a four-die hand crank machine with beautiful designs: 1) a view of the Grand Canyon (h), 2) a Grand Canyon Railway engine (h), 3) a Grand Canyon rattlesnake (v), 4) an Arizona Route 66 highway shield (v). For many years there was a second machine here; however, recently it was moved to Tusayan.
Our next stop will be at the Pine Country Restaurant at the corner of Grand Canyon Blvd. and Railroad Ave. It offers a three-die electric machine: 1) a Cactus Wren, the Arizona state bird (h), 2) a car & passengers getting “kicks” on Route 66 (h), 3) Route 66 shield and words Williams, Arizona (v).
Before we head to the Grand Canyon, we are going to take a 65 mile side trip to the Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn, near Peach Springs. We head west on I-40 to Seligman where we pick up State Highway 66 to the Caverns. The Caverns, opened in 1927 and originally called Dinosaur Caverns, were a favorite stop for tourists traveling old U. S. Highway 66. The Grand Canyon Caverns gift shop has a new single-die electric machine, the design showing a dinosaur and Arizona Route 66 shield (v).
We now return to Williams where we pick up State Highway 64 north to the Grand Canyon. About half way to the Canyon we pass through the small community of Valle. Here, a couple of blocks off of our highway on U. S. Hwy. 180, is the Double Eagle Trading Co., a western theme souvenir shop. It has a four-die hand crank machine with some fine quality and attractive designs: 1) a view of the Grand Canyon (h), 2) a Grand Canyon longhorn steer head (h), 3) a map of Arizona the Grand Canyon State (v), 4) a howling Arizona coyote (v).
Continuing north, just outside the south entrance to Grand Canyon National Park is the very touristy town of Tusayan. Our first stop is the Conoco Gas Station. It has the machine that was moved from Williams. It is a four-die hand crank machine with beautiful designs: 1) John Wesley Powell’s Grand Canyon river boats (h), 2) a view of the Grand Canyon National Park established 1919 (v), 3) a Grand Canyon Kaibab Squirrel (v), 4) a Grand Canyon Condor (v) [this is my favorite coin from this region].
Across the street from the station is the Grand Canyon IMAX Theater. It once had a claim to having four smashing machines. However, unfortunately, about a year ago they were all removed!
Continuing up the highway a short distance, we make a stop at the Tusayan General Store. It has a four-die hand crank machine with attractive Grand Canyon designs, all (h): 1) a view of the Grand Canyon, 2) another view of the Grand Canyon, 3) a Colorado River raft full of people, 4) a Grand Canyon mule.
After entering Grand Canyon National Park, we go to the “Village” on the south rim of the Canyon and make a stop at the Bright Angel Lodge Gift Shop. It has a four-die hand crank machine with, of course, Grand Canyon designs: 1) a view of the Canyon (h), 2) a man on a mule in the Canyon (h), 3) a view of Hopi House (h), 4) a design of the Indian flute player Kokopeli and words Grand Canyon National Park (v).
Take plenty of time to view the Canyon. Its beauty and size will humble you! It looks different at different times of the day. And, there are many visitor centers, museums, galleries, and hiking opportunities to fill the days.
Our next stop will be the Watchtower at Desert View on the south rim 25 miles east of the Village. It is a remarkable structure made of local red sandstone. The general store there has a four-die hand crank machine with more great Grand Canyon designs: 1) a view of the Canyon with the Watchtower (h), 2) another view of the Canyon (h), a close view of the Watchtower (v), Kokopeli (this is nearly identical to the one at the Bright Angel Lodge Gift Shop (v).
Our final destination in this penny smashing tour of the Grand Canyon region will be the North Rim of the Canyon. However, please realize that even though it is only ten miles directly across the canyon, it is a five-hour drive of 215 miles. The drive on U. S. Highway 89 is spectacular; it takes you through a part of the Painted Desert, over the awesome Marble Canyon gorge, and past the towering Vermillion Cliffs. Much of the trip is on the Navajo Nation Reservation with plenty of opportunities to purchase turquoise & silver jewelry and other native crafts. The road to the North Rim is closed in the winter due to snow, and facilities are only open from May to mid-October.
After arriving in the North Rim Village, go to the Grand Canyon Lodge Gift Shop. It has a four-die hand crank machine with, what else, more great Grand Canyon designs: 1) a view of the Canyon (h), 2) a Canyon mule (h), 3) boot prints and words Hike! Grand Canyon (v), 4) a different Kokopeli design with words Grand Canyon (v).
We have now smashed our way across much of northern Arizona, hopefully, satisfying our craving for elongated pennies, and, as a bonus, have seen some incredible natural scenery. Scans of the penny designs described here may be seen on a special webpage I made for this article at: http://elongated.esmartdesign.com/grandcynpennycolln.html.
*Article published in the TEC News, volume 41, number 2, April-June 2006, page 16.
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