Before the Sonoita Valley became known for rolling vineyards and breathtaking scenery, it was a place of risk, endurance, and raw frontier drama. In the 18th and 19th centuries, this region was considered a true “no man’s land”—a remote and unforgiving corridor where travelers faced threats from both nature and human conflict. Through stories of explorers, soldiers, settlers, and Indigenous peoples, Rick reveals how the Sonoita Valley became a crossroads of ambition, resilience, and cultural encounter. Today’s tranquil beauty hides a dramatic past—reminding us that the romance of the Southwest was forged through risk, grit, and the relentless pull of the unknown.

A little about the presenter, Rick Collins:

Rick is a retired National Park Ranger whose career was dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and sharing the rich cultural and natural history of Southern Arizona. Today, Rick continues his service to history and preservation as Vice President of the Empire Ranch Foundation and as a board member of the Tubac Historical Society, where he helps guide efforts to protect and interpret some of Arizona’s most significant historic places. He also coordinates the volunteers of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail Mounted Color Guard, leading public programs and ceremonial rides that bring the story of the Anza Expedition and the historic trail to life for audiences of all ages. Through his leadership, storytelling, and unwavering passion for heritage preservation, Rick inspires a deeper understanding of the people, cultures, and landscapes that define Southern Arizona, ensuring that these stories continue to be honored and shared for generations to come.

Additional note:

In February 2016, Rick Presented: Life and War on the Edge of the Spanish Frontier 

Usually when we think of Arizona in Spanish Colonial times we have an image of crumbling adobe walls with ragged settlers cowering in fear, just waiting to suffer slow, tortured death at the hands of hostile Indians. The truth is something very different. The settler of the frontier we know as the American Southwest was as tough and resourceful as any Davy Crocket or Daniel Boone. Danger and disease were always lingering about, and the challenges of survival were many, but the settlers lived a good, productive life. In between field work and child raising the women followed the latest fashions from Britain and France and bought ribbon and silk. Soldiers took pride in who they were and what they accomplished. Life was rough, but these colonists persevered and carved out a settlement that impacts every part of our lives today. 

Richard Collins, {in 2016}President of the Tucson Presidio Trust for Historic Preservation, has been a National Park Ranger and long time volunteer for years. His interest in life on the Spanish Colonial frontier army resulted in designing and creating costumes for the Anza National Historic Trail. He volunteers in the Spanish Colonial collection of the Arizona Historical Society, and guides the efforts of the Tucson Presidio Trust to preserve and showcase Tucson history at the Presidio San Agustin del Tucson.