Sentinel Peak (Arizona)

Sentinel Peak (Arizona)

Sentinel Peak, or more commonly known as A Mountain, is a prominent ridge in the Tucson Mountains west of Tucson, Arizona.

Sentinel Peak is a basaltic dike that rises to the west of the Santa Cruz River. The underground ridge of rock, running to the east, once forced groundwater to the surface. The floodplain was used for agricultural fields from about 4,000 years ago until the 1930s. Residents of the nearby village of Schook-schon (Tucson) were visited by Father Eusebio Francisco Kino in the 1690s. These residents likely used bedrock mortars found on the sides of the peak to grind mesquite beans and corn into flour. When the nearby Presidio of Tucson was constructed in 1775, a sentinel stood on the top of the peak searching the horizon for raiding Apache warriors.

A Mountain features a large, painted, man-made letter "A" basalt rock formation, built by University of Arizona students. The "A" is maintained by student organizations at the school, and has been traditionally painted white. After September 11, 2001, the "A" was painted red, white, and blue, which are the school colors, but primarily was a show of patriotism. Since then, the "A" has not returned to its previous white. On St. Patrick's Day, the "A" is often painted green.

The idea for the "A" began in 1914 after the Arizona team defeated Pomona College in a big football game. A civil engineering student on the team convinced one of his professors to include the project of creating the "A" atop Sentinel Peak as a class assignment.

On March 4, 1916, the "A" was whitewashed onto the mountain, measuring 70 feet wide and 160 feet tall. Basalt rock removed from Sentinel Peak was incorporated into foundations and walls throughout historic neighborhoods in Tucson and in the walls surrounding the west side of the University of Arizona campus.

Arizona State University has a more recently-created "A" Mountain (Tempe Butte) near the school's football stadium. During the week of the ASU-UA football game, rival fans and students try to paint the "A" of the opposing school with their own school colors.

ee also


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sentinel Peak — may refer to: * Sentinel Peak (Alberta) * Sentinel Peak (Antarctica) * Sentinel Peak (Arizona) * Sentinel Peak (British Columbia) * Sentinel Peak (California) * Sentinel Peak (Colorado) * Sentinel Peak (Idaho) * Sentinel Peak (Montana) * Sentinel …   Wikipedia

  • Sentinel — may refer to:Guards* Border guard, a state agent who controls the security at borders * Honor guard, a ceremonial escortPlaces* Sentinel, Oklahoma * Sentinel Island (disambiguation) * Sentinel Islands, a pair of islands in the Andaman Islands *… …   Wikipedia

  • Tucson, Arizona — Tucson redirects here. For other uses, see Tucson (disambiguation). Tucson   City   From upper left: Downtown Tucson Skyline, Pima County Courthouse, Old Main, Un …   Wikipedia

  • List of mountain ranges of Arizona — There are 194 named mountain ranges in Arizona. The extra items listed may include::Mingus Mountain, the high, NW section of the Black Hills:Shiprock:Sierra Madre Occidental (of W continental Mexico) The list*Agua Caliente Mountains ndash;Yuma… …   Wikipedia

  • List of mountains of the United States — This list of mountains of the United States includes significant mountain peaks and high points located in the United States of America arranged alphabetically by state, district, or territory.ignificant mountain peaks and high points Alabama… …   Wikipedia

  • A Mountain — may refer to the local name of several mountains or hills upon which has been placed the letter A, usually signifying the first initial of a particular school. Includes the following mountains:*Sentinel Peak (Arizona), University of Arizona… …   Wikipedia

  • Table of the most isolated major summits of North America — Main article: Mountain peaks of North America See also: Table of the highest major summits of North America, Table of the most prominent summits of North America, and Table of the major 100 km summits of North America The following sortable… …   Wikipedia

  • Table of the major 100 km summits of North America — Main article: Mountain peaks of North America The following sortable table lists the 234 mountain peaks of greater North America with at least 100 kilometers (62.14 miles) of topographic isolation and at least 500 meters… …   Wikipedia

  • The Duel in the Desert —       First meeting November 3 …   Wikipedia

  • Territorial Cup — The Territorial Cup is a trophy that is awarded annually to the winner of the college football game between the Arizona State University (ASU) Sun Devils and the University of Arizona (UA) Wildcats and has also served as the symbol of the long… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”