Arco -- Atomic City

Arco Idaho is midway between Idaho Falls and Bellevue (where we are housesitting). It sits in the middle of nowhere. On the east, it's close to the Idaho National Lab (of atomic energy fame) and to the west, a huge lava field, approximately 35miles square, called Craters of the Moon National Park.

I guess there is no reason to debate why Idaho National Lab is out in the middle of nowhere, itself about 35-40 miles from any inhabitable area. Arco, I guess, originated as a ranch town, or a stop along the way on some cross country journey, or just maybe because some early travelers reached the nearly impassable lava field and just stopped.

Anyway, ARCO is visually proud of two things: its relationship with the birth of atomic energy and Number Hill,  the spot where each year's high school graduating class is encouraged to make it known to the world that they were indeed, the class of XXXX. The tradition originated with the class of 1920. Coming up on 100 years!

Hope you can read this - this is the tradition. I wonder what happens in 2020? The Hawkbill tower is in the back -- see previous blog post Hawbill on that.

One look from the west

Another look more northerly. It's bit hard to see but the image includes the stuff above and shows more numbers well to the left and right. I think you can select and enlarge the image here. The kids are running out of "the best spots". Only the class of 2000 cheated and added all numbers (more or less in the middle of the upper image).

This oil must be very powerful stuff!

Kind of like 4th of July, but with WAY better fireworks (ha)