It is the story of the American South West; once thriving towns have become (nearly) ghost towns. Also Patagonia – named after the nearby mountains – was once a booming mining town on the Sonoita Creek railroad. By 1900, Patagonia rated a two-story railroad depot and by WWI it had running water, an Opera House, three hotels, a schoolhouse, two parks, and several stores and saloons. But by the 1950s the mines were closed and the railway was abandoned, the town lost its main sources of income and people started to leave.  Nowadays, Patagonia is home to a growing colony of artists and the area’s scenic beauty and unique ecology attract hikers and birders.
I was drawn to the beautiful cemetery!