Points
of interest
A long way down the road you can see Buchanan nestled up
against the rim rocks. As you drive closer it appears to be an ordinary desert
gas station; a place to fill your gas tank and buy a package of peanuts and
some soda pop. But this is no typical gas stop.
Mavis Oard advertises a "free museum" inside, but
it is much more. She has collected treasures beyond imagination. A piano,
manufactured between 1780 and 1820, an organ and an old spinning wheel line
one wall. The rest of the room is filled with U.S. cavalry gloves,
typewriters, crank telephones, doorknobs, corn husk dolls, dishes and shoes;
things all used in previous centuries.
The
gift shop and art gallery will rival many in major metropolitan areas. Mavis deals with top
craftsmen when buying her Indian art and jewelry items. She attends several Indian art and craft
shows each year, where she can buy directly from the artists.
People from all over the world manage to find the store in
Buchanan. Word of mouth is their best advertisement. A landing strip is also
available for those who want to fly in to see the museum and store, although
that is not the main reason for having it. "I've had the Ford dealership
here for 20 years," Mavis says. "People fly in to get parts. I carry
a large inventory and have a repair shop. That's my main business. The museum
is my love."
Crops
and soil
Crops grown in the Buchanan area mainly consist of meadow
hay. The growing season is late May to early September.
The soil in Buchanan has just enough alkali in it to make it
difficult to grow a vegetable garden.
Climate
The climate in the winter is mildly cold, seldom below
zero. The summer is nice and not overbearingly hot. The
temperatures range between the high 70's to the mid 90's.
Mileage
from Burns
The total highway miles from Burns to Buchanan is 23 miles.
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