Jerome Historic District facts for kids
|
Jerome Historic District
|
|
.jpg)
|
|
 Location in Arizona
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Jerome, Arizona |
|---|---|
| Area | 120 acres (49 ha) |
| Built | 1876 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000196 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | November 13, 1966 |
| Designated NHLD | November 13, 1966 |
Imagine a town clinging to the side of a mountain, built on the riches of copper! That's the Jerome Historic District in Jerome, Arizona. This special area protects a former mining town. People dug for copper here from the late 1800s until 1953. Because of its unique history, the district was named a National Historic Landmark in 1966. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places that same year.
Contents
Discovering Jerome's Mining Past
Jerome is a town located in the Black Hills of Yavapai County, Arizona. It was started in the late 1800s on a spot called Cleopatra Hill. This spot looked over the Verde Valley. People built the town here because they found lots of copper in the 1870s. A nearby railroad made it easy to transport the copper, which helped the town grow.
How Jerome Became a Bustling Town
Jerome was at its busiest in the early 1900s. But after World War II, the main copper mines started to run out. The mines finally closed for good in 1953. Today, the historic district covers most of the town's old buildings. It also includes mining areas outside the town limits. The Douglas Mansion, which is part of Jerome State Historic Park, is also included.
Exploring an Old Mining Town
The community of Jerome still looks and feels like a mining town from the early 1900s. Buildings are built right into the steep mountainside, along winding roads. You can see old houses, shops, and public buildings. There's even a copper smelter from the late 1800s. A smelter is a place where metal is taken out of ore using heat.
-
View of Jerome Historic District, looking west up Main Street towards the mine, 2006.
-
The Connor hotel in 1899.
-
Main Street and Jerome Avenue: the Connor Hotel (left side corner) and the Liberty Theater
-
Mining car
Protecting Jerome's History
The Jerome Historical Society was started in 1953. Its office is at 407 Clark Street, right in the historic district. In 1956, this group made an agreement with a company called Phelps Dodge. This agreement promised that no more buildings would be torn down in the main part of Jerome.
What the Historical Society Does
The main goal of the society is to "protect, preserve and present the unique physical and natural history of Jerome." This means they want to keep Jerome's story alive for everyone. They want to help people living there now and in the future. The society takes care of many buildings, museums, and special projects in and around Jerome.
Important Historic Buildings
Many buildings in the Jerome Historic District are very old and important. Some buildings have a special plaque from the Jerome Historical Society. This plaque means the society has identified them as historic.
Some of these historic buildings include:
- The Barlett Hotel
- The Hotel Connor
