Jerome State Historic Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jerome State Historic Park |
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The Douglas Mansion
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 Jerome State Historic Park
Location in Arizona
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| Location | Verde Valley region Black Hills-(north section) (Mingus Mountain), Arizona, United States |
| Elevation | 4,924 ft (1,501 m) |
| Established | 1957 |
| Governing body | Arizona State Parks |
Jerome State Historic Park is a special state park in Arizona, USA. It is home to the amazing Douglas Mansion. This grand house was built in 1916 by a very important family. They were mining entrepreneurs in Jerome, Arizona, a town famous for its mines. Today, the old Douglas Mansion is a museum. It teaches visitors all about the area's rich history.
Jerome State Historic Park reopened on October 14, 2010. It had been closed since February 27, 2009. This was due to budget cuts and the need to fix the historic mansion. Money for fixing the mansion came from a state grant and gifts from the Douglas family. Now, the park is open seven days a week. This is thanks to extra money raised by Yavapai County, the town of Jerome, and the Jerome Historical Society.
Contents
Douglas Mansion: A Grand Home
The Douglas Mansion has been a famous building in Jerome since 1916. Jimmy Douglas built it on a hill. It was right above his Little Daisy Mine.
Douglas designed the house to be a hotel. It was for mining officials and investors. His own family also lived there. The mansion had a wine cellar and a billiard room. It also featured a marble shower and steam heating. It even had a central vacuum system, which was very modern for its time. Douglas was most proud that the house was made from adobe bricks. These bricks were made right there on the building site. This house is the biggest adobe building in all of Arizona.
Jimmy Douglas also built the Little Daisy Hotel. It was near the mine and served as a dormitory for the miners. This concrete building is still standing today. It was recently updated and turned into a private home.
The Mansion Museum
The old mansion is now a museum. It tells the story of the Jerome area and the Douglas family. The museum has many interesting things to see. You can find old photographs and mining tools. There are also displays of different minerals. Visitors can watch a video about the town. There is also a cool 3-D model of Jerome. This model shows the town and its underground mines. One room, the Douglas library, has been restored. It looks just like it did long ago. Outside, you can see more mining tools. There is also a picnic area. From here, you get amazing views of the Verde Valley and River. You can also see the red rocks of Sedona and the Oak Creek Canyon area.
Park History: From Home to Museum
In 1962, the sons of Jimmy Douglas gave the Douglas Mansion to the State of Arizona. The Jerome State Historic Park officially opened in 1965. Since then, the park has added more exhibits. It has also grown its collection of historic artifacts and old documents. The park's main goal is to share the history of the Douglas family. It also aims to tell the story of Jerome during its mining days.
What You Can See and Do
When you visit Jerome State Historic Park, you can enjoy many things:
- Explore the historic mansion. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- See antique mining equipment used long ago.
- Look at displays of minerals, ore, and geology. There are also models of mines.
- Learn about history through many old photographs.
- Watch interesting video presentations.
- Have a picnic at the picnic area. It has tables, restrooms, and beautiful red-rock views.
- There is also plenty of parking space.
