Sacred Place: the San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff, Arizona
Most tribes identified certain landmarks, usually mountains, rivers or lakes, as being the traditional boundaries of their home and hunting ranges. Not only were these reference points, they were often considered sacred. These areas could be the homes of gods or spirits, the birthplace of ancestors, or represent the well-being of the people who lived on that land. A series of beautiful mountain peaks towering over the town of Flagstaff in Arizona are sacred to no less than 13 Native tribes who call Arizona home. The San Francisco Peaks are the core of an ancient stratovolcano, the kind known to produce the most explosive eruptions. The resulting peaks are the leftovers after the volcano blew itself apart and collapsed. Humphrey's Peak is the highest elevation. The other peaks are, in no particular order, Agassiz, Fremont, Aubineau, Rees and Doyle. In 1629, Franciscan friars missionizing among the Hopi named the mountains in honor of St. F...