Saturday, June 27

On this date in 1881, 30,000 pounds (13.6 metric tonnes) of gunpowder exploded in Zeckendorf’s powder magazine at the edge of Tucson, smashing windows and dishes and damaging buildings all over town. Churches were quickly filled with people who feared the end of the world was at hand.

On this date in 1921, a fire destroyed the mining town of Oatman with the loss estimated at $500,000.

On this date in 1926, a shoulder blade of a huge prehistoric animal was discovered at Arivaca.