Exploring the Tom Mix Crash Site and Monument - Arizona 

I was born in 1941. My brother and I used to listen to the Tom Mix radio program. I also had a Tom Mix 'glow in the dark' belt with a secret compartment in the buckle. I thought that was awesome.

My mother told me many years ago that Tom Mix was her favorite when she was a child. She was born 1919.

When I was growing up in Superior I remember many times going to Tucson on Highway 79/80 and there were very FEW bridges, but many, many dips through the many washes. Each dip had a sign a few hundred feet before it letting the drivers know there was a dip coming up, because if you hit one at even 60 miles per hour, it'd throw you and your car way off the road. I hardly remember any bridges.

Exactly one century ago, almost every American knew who Tim Mix was. Now, almost no one does. Makes you think about the fickleness of fame

Practically every young boy’s hero on Saturday morning TV in the early 50’s.

Bruce Willis plays Tom Mix in ‘Sunset’ w/James Garner as Wyatt Earp. Good little movie highly recommended

Thank you! I have never heard of this monument. My mother, born in 1915, told me many times how much she loved his movies. (A big part of her love went to his horse, Tony, who was very talented.) Mom was born and grew up near the movie studios and the told me she always enjoyed seeing Tom Mix drive by in his beautiful car. Sometimes he would wave. I'm glad to hear the car is taken care of. I hope Tony had a good retirement.

Tom Mix had a house in Avalon, Can, Catalina Island. He had a huge lit sign on his roof, telling all he lived there. He was known to be very friendly to visitors, and give out autographed pictures. The house is still there with a big TM on the roof. I heard that he really loved Catalina.

I first saw the Tom Mix Monument in the early 1950s ....it has been vandalized many times since then. Sad that people are so destructive. God Bless America

In the 1st episode of the Beverly Hillbillies the Clampetts are informed that Tom Mix is dead. Jed then remembers that they did see him get killed in a movie

Loved him. I never could figure out how someone could wreck on a straight stretch of road... until WE did.

I was born in 79 never heard of Tom Mix until a channel called mixup98. Then it was a comment on his channel that led me here.

There is a story that is being passed around in my family that one of my distant relatives was one of the last people to see him alive. According to family stories my relative, Walt Coburn was living in Tucson and the night before Tom Mix passed the two of them as well as the Pima County Sheriff at the time were playing an all night poker game and then Tom left in the morning.

I grew up in central Pennsylvania, and my grandparents knew about Tom Mix partly because he was born not too far from where they lived. The town--well, you can hardly call it a town, it's not much more than a few houses between a stream and a railroad--is called Mix Run, named after his family. I've been to Mix Run, and the description of "somewhat remote" on Wikipedia is an understatement, as it's very hard to get to. It's weird to think I've been to the place Tom Mix was born, and where he died, and the only thing I really know about him was his quote after attending an Oscars party: "I ate for two hours and the only thing I remember I ate was an olive."

Not far from there is the Town of Superior. You can walk up the old road to the original claypool tunnel. Lots of history and several old photos and post cards online. Currently called the legends of Superior trail.

Regarding the crosses, I can tell you that drywall screws were invented in the late 1970s or early, early 1980s without researching it because I worked in the retail lumber business then and I remember them showing up and it being the "cats meow" for contractors. So, those crosses are less then 40 years old, there you go! Thank you for the wonderful video...

Me and my family visited this site in the mid '70's and did not see evidence of those crosses at that time! Also am glad to see shaded picnic tables installed because it does get hot out there in the summer time!

Hello, Steve. Thanks for your films; I enjoyed this one too. To add a minor correction, before Tom there was William S Hart, who was a genuine cowboy, making silent movies which strove to present a more authentic view of the Old West than later became popular. I've seen a couple of both actors' films, and there is a difference - but they're still darned good movies. My late mother was seven when Wyatt Earpe died - and I had a works colleague who was actually related to him. The Earpes came from our Black Country, and still have descendants, by the same name, living today.

It is so nice to see the monument, and learn about the original cowboy movie star.

In 1973 as a teenager in Phoenix I read a story of the Tom Mix accident. First time I’d heard of him

The screws used to hold those crosses together are modern, and not from the time of Tom Mix's death.

My grandmother, 'Ester' Mix-Bell, was Tom's younger, sister and my great-uncle. Their father worked for the wealthy, Du Bois Family. Like a caretaker, for their horse's. The town in W., PA [Du Bois] was named after them, whom intergrated from France]. I feel that Tom, probably helped his father, with the horse's at the Du Bois home. Since my grandmother, learned how to drive, a buggy. Still had her driving-gloves, in the mid-60's. I was still in high school, then. Ester, my mom and aunt, moved to So.California in the early 30's. I was lucky, to have had the chance, to vist The TOM MIX Museum, in Dewey, OK. Plus being able to see an old photo, there...of my great-grandparent's, on the Mix side. Besides the other, neat thing's, that belonged to my great-uncle. All put, aside...'Tony' was a wonderful horse. Tom & Tony made a great pair. You can see their 'bond', with...no doubt. My mom and I, also loved...horse's. Riding them, as well. Wish I could have met them. Not because of their, fame. Best Wishes from Chatsworth, CA 2022.

In college I knew a guy who was related to the family, and still had the Mix surname. My maternal grandfather and I used to watch westerns on TV when I would visit in the late 60s (I was a kid), and he would mention Tom Mix. I think I'd also heard the name referenced in the commentary (there are always western rider groups) of the Rose Parade in Pasadena. The Hotel Vendome in Prescott, AZ has a "Tom Mix" room that we've stayed in. It seems celebrities can no longer get away with so much fiction surrounding their backgrounds.

I have found that most of the Historic Markers I have come across, are not at the actual site that the event took place, in fact several are actually miles away.

Pretty cool. Not sure how many times I’ve driven past that spot.

My wife and I stopped by the monument several years ago on a trip to Tucson from A.J. Beautiful scenery around the monument and a very nice road in general. Well worth the stop, the memorial seems to be maintained by someone and is well kept. Thanks for the video, it brings back fond memories of Arizona.

The plague was moved from the crash site when they built the rest area, back around 1970.

Nice to see that you make so many excursions. You are interested in what is around you. Too many people are just interested in shopping and consuming. Thanks for let us be part of your excursions

There is a Tom mix museum in Dewey Oklahoma. They show a film about his life, some of his western memorabilia, and the luggage he was carrying on that fatal crash. I’m not sure if it was original or replica, it’s been a while since I’ve been there. I think they said that he was a sheriff there for a few months.

Very accurate. Excellent presentation. I have not seen the Tom Mix monument in many years. Tom Mix Fan Club had a postcard size photo of him indicating how many times he had been wounded and of course a secret decoder ring. Tom Mix Blvd. Is in Apache Junction, Az. Or it used to be.

Can't say that I had ever heard of Tom Mix before, but appreciated the info as such things interest me for no apparent reason. You do interesting videos that remind me of when my family would drive around San Diego County and vicinity on weekends during the late 1960s...looking for such little hidden jewels that didn't cost anything to visit. Thanks.

New subscriber here. I never heard of Tom Mix before but glad I got to watch this video, I'm a fan of Wyatt Earp. I live in Phoenix and now curious to find the Tom Mix Monument. Thanks for sharing this cool video 👍🇺🇸..

My dad born in 1917 thought the world of Tom Mix he was the only western actor I ever heard him talk about

My Uncle John, who grew up in Florence, was the keynote speaker at the dedication of the Tom Mix Memorial. He was living in Florence at the time of the dedication, but later built a home in the Cactus Forest subdivision just north of the memorial site.

This is a very good detail video that you created. I have seen the Tom Mix Monument when I lived in Arizona from 1985-95 but you gave me a lot of great information about Tom Mix that I did not know. I saw some of his movies and other old cowboy movies when I was growing up as a kid. Guess I am getting old if I was born in 1940! Thanks to you a lot more people will know this historical place exists. Arizona is a beautiful state and there is lots to see there. I love the song "I love you Arizona" by Rex Allen JR. whose father was one of the old cowboys. One of my favorite places to visit when I lived in Arizona was Apache Trail just Northeast of Phoenix!

I've enjoyed every one of your videos, but I most enjoy these where I learn a little history along with it! I most enjoy the abandoned mining towns and ghost towns of the West! Thanks for taking me places I can no longer go! I got too damn old!

There is a sort-of memorial in Mix Run, PA, near Driftwood in Elk County.

Love your channel! I drove past this monument in January 2022 on my way to Tucson and I wondered what this was about but I didn’t have time to stop and look around. Thanks for all your videos. They are great. I live here in Arizona and it’s just amazing the places you discover and check out. I love things like this, -going off the beaten path to discover a past history.

Thats what I love about you. You tell the full story.Thank you

I have been by here several times. I live in Casa Grande, AZ. My Dad, who was born/raised in IA, knew of this place.

I love these little bits of history! I wish I could visit them all!

Love these; but now.I have to lookip a maps and find Florence, AZ. I wish a large map with closeup of location could be shown with your vlogs.

When I was a boy, there was an expression, "Tom Mix'in cement and Ben Turin straight ahead." For those of you who don't know, Ben Turpin was a severally cross-eye movie actor.

My late father bless him was born in 1919 and often spoke to me when I was a kid about having watched a cowboy called Tom Mix in the films he had watched as a youngster. I never really believed him as I was born 10 years after Tom Mix died and thought that it was a strange name for an actor. By the time I started watching Westerns it was John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda, Gary Cooper and the like. Fascinating to know he was a real person and to find out what happened to him.

I am loving your videos - keep 'em up!

Very nice video about Tom Mix and his untimely death. Extremely informative.

If memory serves, the sign has been stolen more than once, and new signs have replaced it.

Love your videos , very interesting and not long winded , big fan of yours and watching you all the way from a sunny Cape Town , South Africa

That is one of my chill spots.Not far from there on the Hunt hiway is a lone pyramid on a hill where the first govoner J.B. Hunt is buried.

He was originally hired in Hollywood as a horse handler (Wrangler). But after showing a director how to lean down and pick up a hat from a horse at full gallop, he was changed to an actor/stunt man. He was a true "Soldier of Fortune" as he fought in many foreign wars. Legend has it that that trunk was filled with silver dollars from a poker game making it so deadly.

Interesting. Thank you for another interesting video.

There is a cool home near Tom’s House called Mystery Castle. Worth seeing too

AWESOME video!!!!

Here in Moscow Idaho there is a "Mix" road where one of his relatives still lives...Nice fella

When I was 5 yr old 1955 I remember a going on Sunday spring drives to the desert south of the Phoenix valley. This is before the interstate.. You would drive thru Florence Jct. going to Tucson and Mexico. One of his haunts. We always would stop there to buy tamales from the weekend vendors. There was a bath tub grotto numerous crosses marking other road deaths in the area. There was always sand in the curves from the washes

I enjoyed this video very much. If anyone wants more info on Tom Mix, Jerry Skinner does great documentaries, using his experience as a PI. Find on RU-vid with this title: Tom Mix: First Cowboy Superstar (Jerry Skinner Documentary)

Another name for that road is "Pinal Pioneer Parkway". It's a beautiful drive.

Thank you for your videos. I love them.

Funny, I lived in AZ 25 years ago. First time I came upon this "monument" I had never heard of mix. Seems like the forgetting about him came fast and easy.

He did like a Big Hat and Chaps .

great video and information

My grandfather used to get paid $3 a day to ride bareback and dressed up like a brave for Mack Sennet studios, among others. I believe he was in a movie or 2 with Tom Mix. (He said where he lived was Edendale)

Thank you very much!

A state trooper taught me (at a defensive driving course) about loose objects in the vehicle becoming projectiles in crashes and how much damage they can do to occupants.

Nice job. Thank you

Mix was driving a Cord Phaeton convertible. The statue depicts his horse Tony.

Nice job thank you

My dad used to kid about Tom Mix and Cement. Actually I know Dad knew his horse's name was Tony, but he thought he was being funny.

Just a note for anyone going to see this... those "few miles" south of Florence take about half an hour to traverse. Wildly exaggerated histories dreamed up by publicity agents were a quite common thing in that era, so that is unsurprising. Gene Autry also had shady stories in his history (same sort of source) that he repeated so often that he came to believe them himself.

Nice one! Thanks

There's a great movie with Bruce Willis and James Garner called "Sunset" that portrays Tom Mix (the movie is fiction), really fun.

I moved to Arizona 14 years ago. When this virus subsides. I'm going to drop by to see his monument. Nice video.

tom mix was born in mix run, pa. there is a small museum located on site

John Lennon was 3 days old when Tom died, and Christine Aguilera of all people was born just 10 days after John died. And as the man said, Tom supposedly met Wyatt Earp. Interesting how such different yet distinct personalities can "overlap" like that.

6:40 The upper cross also seems to say Tom Mix.

In the book "Secret Stairs of Kos Angeles" the author points out a house in Silver Lake that Tom Mix had lived in. It's a private home and there's no marker, but the author displays knowledge of many unmarked L.A. landmarks so I would believe he would know about this one.

The bridge at the time of the accident was obviously not the same one that is there on Hwy 79 now. Fact is, the aerials pretty clearly show the remains of another roadway a couple hundred feet west of the current 79 alignment, and we almost have to assume that it has to be the old 80 alignment, because there's no indication that there was no other roadway at that time besides Hwy 80. The point at which that road would have crossed the wash would be approximately where the crosses are located, so maybe somebody had better information at some point.

I notice the loose leaf notebook is gone. People had left money in it. Guess someone wanted it more than leaving it alone.

Mix was born in Mix Run, PA which was named after his grandfather…he dud actually serve in the Spanish-American War, but didn’t get deployed due to the war ending

Not being from a desert area like this, I had no idea what "a wash" is. Looks like a small bridge where flash flood waters can pass under the road to prevent washing it out by flood passing waters over it. I would guess that the noun "wash" a new term for many people like yours truly.

Very sad😢❤

He was the original tough guy in westerns..

I'm enjoying you videos. Not that these vids are on the same level as Californias Gold but they do remind me a bit

Tom Mix was one of the biggest cowboy stars of the silent era but he was hardly the first. Bunco Billy Anderson was the first, followed by William S. Hart. Bronco Billy made more than 300 Westerns most of them were lost or destroyed but a few remain such as the Great Train Robbery.

I've been to his home place in central PA!!

Some of the Cord 812's were notorious for having weak brakes. Great style and lots of power, but heavy for their size. if you had to stop in a hurry.........it was the end of the road for you pardner.

When Tom Mix was making movies the hills around Hollywood were not paved. He was such a big star that he had a tire company make tires for his car that spelled TOM MIX (backward) in the tread. When he drove around Hollywood, he'd leave a trail that spelled his name. He was making about $4,000 a week when shooting his movies, so, I guess when you're that rich you can have a tire company print anything you want in the tread. That would be about. $73,000 per week...taxes were minimal at that time. So, was he rich? You bet your sweet Texas he was!

bummer, man~!

His home is near South Mountain in phoenix central and Base of South Moutain. Now a Mexican Restaurant Los Dos Molinos. Was a mortuary prior

Regarding the Crosses the were both made by the same person. And they both read Tom Mix. If you look very closely you can read most of the letters on the taller cross

He was in a 37 supercharged Cord and he was really moving along at a high rate of speed and couldn't stop and went off into the wash. He had Masonic services in the Los Angeles area. The crosses are not really old , wood doesn't hold up well in the desert, which is why so many people who live there and concrete block fences

I think the top one said Tom Mix too.

Enjoy your adventures - Could you leave the GPS co-ordinates of your stops. God Bless

I hope people didn't get too upset about contrary info as to his past. That's just something that some celebrities did. Sort of a gimmick, to build up the personality. Would you rather read about the exciting stories of a lawman and army soldier? Or the exciting stories of someone born in a nearly uninhabited area of PA.

I am sure my father who was born in 1917 saw him in some of the silent movies.

I have an old photo of him on Tony..

Take a drink every time he says it's a little south of here

As one would expect the top cross says TOM MIX

He was born on Mix Run. I'm pretty sure it was Cameron Co. After he had told all his lies about his birth and life. He was invited to either the Dubois or Clearfield fair. They had a presentation stand set up for his mother. He wouldn't even speak with her. After he said he was born in Texas his mother said he was a dned liar. I know she said because I horned him just up the road on Mix Run. They have a place they call his homesite but from what the locals told me 40+ years ago, it is close but not there.

been there done that would have bought the T shirt but they weren't selling any. my wife's folks used to snowbird in Florance. go to Casa Grande house and look at the graffiti. interesting