Visitors have a new way to learn about Cochise County’s culture and heritage. Cochise Origins, a 22-minute video details five cultural themes.

It is playing at six visitor centers and seven attractions within Cochise County.

It is also available on the Cochise County Tourism Council’s website.

The video won the Cooperative Marketing award at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism, held at the Westin Kierland resort, July 8-10, 2009. Cochise Origins was chosen because of the project’s demonstration of collaboration among various private and public entities.

Cochise Origins provides an overview of themes unique to Cochise County, many of which shaped Arizona and the American West. It plays on high definition TVs and Blu-ray DVD players, purchased through funding from the Arizona Office of Tourism’s Rural Tourism Development Grant program.

 The five historic themes include:

√ Hispanic/Mexican Influence: The Spanish first crossed into the U.S. with Coronado’s famous expedition to find the mythical Seven Cities of Cibola, which had a profound influence on the southwestern U.S.  Now visitors can begin to learn about how western culture was shaped by the Spanish and Mexican explorers at Coronado National Memorial. In addition, Douglas celebrates its Hispanic heritage with its close ties to neighboring Agua Prieta in Mexico.

√ Apache/Native American Experience: Cochise County is where the famous Apache Indians Cochise and Geronimo roamed. The Amerind Foundation Museum details the history of the Apaches and explores the American Indian experience. The museum continues to study the native peoples of the Americas from Alaska to Argentina.

√ Geology/Mining: Mineral discovery and mining wealth led settlers across the Western landscape. Gold? There was some, but copper built much of Arizona’s wealth. Learn about the impact of the mining industry at the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum. In addition, explore the geologic forces that made the region what it is by visiting the Chiricahua National Monument. The living caves in Kartchner  Caverns State  Park show how geology continues to shape the land.

√ Old West/Ranching: Iconic stories are alive in Tombstone and at the John Slaughter Ranch. Visit the site of the infamous Old West gunfight and learn about the Old West in the Tombstone Courthouse State  Historic Park. A visit to Slaughter Ranch near Douglas will bring to life the days of the famous rancher and former sheriff of Cochise  County, John Slaughter, who brought law to a lawless time.

?        Military History: the famous Buffalo Soldiers made their base in Sierra Vista’s Fort Huachuca, and the Army’s B Troop helped settle the West. The Army post was established as a result of the Indian Wars of the late 1800s and many artifacts of those times are represented in the Fort Huachuca Museums.

From each of these attractions, visitors can find a wealth of information related to its cultural theme. In addition, information for each of the themes within Cochise Origins is available under the “Legendary Origins” tabs of the Cochise County Tourism Council’s website.

Cochise Origins is playing at  the Douglas  Visitor Center, 425 10th  Street, Douglas, Arizona 85607,  520-417-7344