Category: Souvenirs

Souvenir: Arizona State Souvenir
Acquired on: 04/19/2011
Cache Found on: 04/18/2011
Geocache: GC1C96P | Not a Night at the Bullhead Historical Museum

The Story

Last month I wrote about the first souvenirs I ever earned. Each one has a story behind it — a snapshot of where I was and what I was doing at the time. The Arizona State Souvenir, though, marks something even bigger for me: the restart of my geocaching journey.

It’s hard to believe, but before earning this souvenir, I went 457 consecutive days without a find — from January 17, 2010, until April 18, 2011. That’s the longest break I’ve ever had from caching! Most people who know me would probably think it’s impossible for me to stop caching for that long, but life just got busy, and geocaching quietly drifted to the background.

That all changed during a camping trip outside Laughlin, Nevada. We were staying just across the river in Arizona with some of my wife’s cousins. Their youngest had recently started geocaching and was eager to show off their new hobby. Somewhere between campfire stories and s’mores, I remembered — hey, I have a geocaching account!

So the next day, I joined in the hunt. That decision led us to a small dirt pull-off along Highway 95, right by the Bullhead Historical Museum.

The Cache

Name: Not a Night at the Bullhead Historical Museum
Found on: April 18, 2011
My Log: “Log was full so we added another piece of paper.”

The cache description was simple but charming:

“Dirt pull-off off of Hwy. 95. Heavy traffic. Ample parking.
Log only. Bring pencil. History of the many types of trains in this area. There were ore, wagon, mule and camel trains in this area which are recorded in the museum.
If you find this cache please let the owner know exact coordinates.”

It was a quick find — nothing fancy, just a small container tucked away off the highway — but it had something more meaningful attached to it: a sense of rediscovery. That humble log sheet reignited my enthusiasm for the game.

The cache itself was archived on December 16, 2018, after the museum moved to a new location, but it still lives on in my memory (and my finds list in iCaching).

The Takeaway

That single find broke my long streak of inactivity and opened the door to a whole new chapter of caching adventures. I went on to find over 200 caches in 2011, and I’ve been caching steadily ever since.

It’s funny how one small, dusty container on the side of an Arizona highway can set off a chain reaction — reconnecting you with a hobby, a community, and a sense of exploration you didn’t realize you’d been missing.

Every souvenir tells a story, but this one?
This one tells the story of coming back.

Welcome to the first post in a new series where I’ll be sharing the geocaching souvenirs I’ve earned over the years. This series will come out on the second Tuesday of each month, giving me a chance to revisit my geocaching adventures and the digital mementos I’ve collected along the way.

What Are Geocaching Souvenirs?

Souvenirs are digital badges added to your geocaching profile when you complete certain achievements. They can be earned for finding a cache in a particular state or country, attending events, or participating in special promotions. Think of them as stamps in a virtual passport that document your geocaching journey.

My First Souvenirs

Every geocacher remembers their first find—and with it often comes their first souvenirs. For me, that milestone happened on January 3, 2010, when I logged my very first cache: High School View (GC21522), which is still active today!

That single find unlocked my first two souvenirs:

Even better, I wasn’t alone on this adventure. In my log for the cache, I noted: “Found it with my son on his 1st geocache.” That makes these first souvenirs even more special—they’re tied not just to a milestone in my geocaching journey, but also to a memory we shared together.

Looking Back

At the time, I didn’t realize how big of a role souvenirs would play in my experience. They’ve become a way to look back on where I’ve been, the caches I’ve discovered, and the adventures I’ve had along the way.

Looking Ahead

This is just the beginning! In future posts, I’ll highlight more souvenirs I’ve earned and share the stories behind them—whether from traveling to new places, attending events, or completing special challenges.

Stay tuned for next month’s souvenir story!