Arizona 79 travels between Oracle Junction, north of Tucson, and Florence Junction,
east of Phoenix. The road is also known as the Pinal Pioneer
Parkway between Oracle Junction and Florence.
Arizona 79 is former US 80 and US 89, renumbered to Arizona
79 in 1992. This routing of US 80 and US 89 dates back to
1926, with some cleanup work performed when the road was paved
during the 1940s. This section of old US 80 and 89 was one
of the last sections of US 80 to be paved in the country,
and not completed until 1945. In 1977, US 80 was removed from
this road, and in 1992, US 89 was removed from this road.
Originally, the route number (79) was assigned to Arizona
89A between Prescott and Flagstaff. This route was designated
as Arizona 79 between 1927 and 1941, when it was renumbered
as U.S. Highway 89A. The second use of this number was between
1954 and 1973 for what is now Interstate 17 between Cordes
Junction and Flagstaff.
Arizona 79 was designated as the Pinal Pioneer Parkway on
January 10, 1961, to commemorate this being one of the oldest
roads in Arizona - dating back to use as an Indian trail,
as well as use by the Spanish and as a stagecoach road. This
was also part of the early 1900s north-south and east-west
territorial road.
Perspective from Northbound Arizona 79
Arizona 79 begins here at Oracle Junction. Photo taken
June 17, 2007.
Arizona 79 enters the Pinal Pioneer Parkway here. The
Parkway was designated in 1961 as a scenic route, with
a 1000 foot right of way established to preserve the scenic
views of the desert along the road. Photo taken June 17,
2007.
Travellers are advised to watch for animals along Arizona
79. Photo taken June 17, 2007.
Distance sign to Florence (33 miles) and Phoenix (98
miles). Photo taken June 17, 2007.
Distance sign to Florence (23 miles) and Phoenix (87
miles). Photo taken June 17, 2007.
Arizona 79 travels through densely vegetated Sonoran
desert, through a 1000 foot wide right of way designed
to preserve views along the corridor. Photo taken June
17, 2007.
Arizona 79 travels over open terrain between Oracle
Junction and Florence. Photo taken June 17, 2007.
Arizona 79 meets the Tom Mix Monument, one of three
rest areas along the Pinal Pioneer Parkway. Photo taken
November 10, 2007.
Distance sign to Florence (13 miles) and Phoenix (78
miles). Photo taken June 17, 2007.
Arizona 79 leaves the Pinal Pioneer Parkway
here, marking the end of the scenic road designation.
Photo taken November 10, 2007.
Florence is the home of the oldest active
state prison in Arizona. This sign warns travellers not
to pick up hitchhikers due to the nearby prison. Photo
taken June 17, 2007.
Advance signage for Business Arizona 79,
connecting to Arizona 287. Business Arizona 79 is the
original alignment of U.S. 80 and U.S. 89 through Florence,
bypassed in 1959. Photo taken June 17, 2007.
Business Arizona 79 departs from Arizona
79 here. Photo taken June 17, 2007.
Arizona 79 enters the city of Florence here.
Florence was established in 1866, and named for Governor
Safford's sister, Florence. The city is the county seat
of Pinal County and home of the Arizona State Prison -
Florence. Photo taken June 17, 2007.
Advance signage for Arizona 287 (and the
north end of Business Arizona 79). Photo taken June 17,
2007.
Turn left on Arizona 287 to reach the Florence
Business District, or turn right to enter the state prison.
Arizona 79 has been following the fence line of the State
Prison through Florence. Photo taken June 17, 2007.
Turn left to reach McFarland State Historic
Park. Photo taken June 17, 2007.
Distance sign to Florence Junction (15 miles)
and Phoenix (64 miles). Photo taken June 17, 2007.
The Superstition Mountains can be seen in
the distance along Arizona 79. Photo taken June 17, 2007.
Advance signage for U.S. Highway 60, 1/2
mile. Photo taken June 17, 2007.
Arizona 79 ends at U.S. Highway 60, in the
2004-vintage Florence Junction traffic interchange. Take
U.S. 60 West into Phoenix (following the historic route
of U.S. 80), or U.S. 60 east to Globe here. Photo taken
June 17, 2007.
Perspective from Southbound Arizona 79
Arizona 79 begins here just south of U.S.
Highway 60. Photo taken November 10, 2007.
Distance sign to Florence (16 miles) and
Tucson (83 miles). Photo taken November 10, 2007.
This is the first reassurance marker along
Arizona 79 southbound. Photo taken November 10, 2007.
Arizona 79 enters the city of Florence here.
Florence was extablished in 1866, and is now known as
the county seat of Pinal County and a prison town. Photo
taken November 10, 2007.
Arizona 79 meets the Hunt Highway here.
The Hunt Highway travels through Queen Creek to end up
at the Arizona 87/587 junction in Chandler. Photo taken
November 10, 2007.
Advance signage for Business Arizona 79
and Arizona 287, 1500 feet. Photo taken November 10, 2007.
Turn right for Business Arizona 79 and Arizona
287 through downtown Florence. Business Arizona 79 is
the original routing of U.S. Highway 80 and 89, bypassed
in 1959. Photo taken November 10, 2007.
Now on the south side of Florence, we meet
the other end of Business Arizona 79, which is signed
here as a road to Arizona 287. Photo taken November 10,
2007.
Arizona 79 now turns southeast to head toward
Oracle Junction. Photo taken November 10, 2007.
Distance sign to Oracle Junction (36 miles)
and Tucson (61 miles). Photo taken November 10, 2007.
Arizona 79 is designated as
the Pinal Pioneer Parkway from here to Oracle Junction.
This sign marks the northern end of the scenic route.
First photo taken November 10, 2007. Second photo by Josef
Muench, printed in Arizona Highways, January 1966.
Arizona 79 continues to travel across open
desert as it head south. Photo taken November 10, 2007.
Distance sign to Oracle Junction (29 miles)
and Tucson (54 miles). Photo taken November 10, 2007.
Advance signage for the Tom Mix Monument.
Photo taken November 10, 2007.
The Tom Mix Monument commemorates fallen silent film
star Tom Mix. Mix, one of the biggest stars of the 1920
and 1930s, died near this spot in a 1940 car accident,
when he ran off the road while on a detour (as part of
the construction of the present highway). Photos taken
November 10, 2007.
Arizona 79 continues travelling through
open desert enroute to Oracle Junction. Photo taken November
10, 2007.
The Pinal Pioneer Parkway was established
in 1961 to preserve the open feel of this undeveloped
highway. A 1000 foot wide easement was established to
preserve the views. Photo taken November 10, 2007.
Arizona 79 continues to travel along the
open desert. Photo taken November 10, 2007.
This historic photo shows some of the original
signage along the Pinal Pioneer Parkway. Notice the trio
of road signs for U.S. Highways 80 and 89, and Arizona
789, which was signed along this road. Photo by Josef
Muench, printed in Arizona Highways, January 1966.
The Catalina Mountains can be seen in the
distance while driving along Arizona 79. Photo taken November
10, 2007.
Advance signage for Arizona 77, 1/2 mile.
Photo taken November 10, 2007.
The Pinal Pioneer Parkway ends just shy
of Arizona 77. Photo taken November 10, 2007.
Turn left on Arizona 77 to reach Oracle
and Biosphere 2. Turn right on Arizona 77 to follow old
US 80 and US 89 into Tucson. Photo taken November 10,
2007.
