List of historical markers in Prescott, Arizona facts for kids

Prescott, Arizona, is a city with a rich history, and you can learn all about it by visiting its many historical markers. These markers are like outdoor history lessons, telling stories about important people, buildings, and events that shaped Prescott into the place it is today. From old banks and schools to famous hotels and the spots where big fires happened, these markers help us imagine what life was like long ago in this Arizona city.

Prescott's Historic Markers

The Bank of Arizona and Electric Buildings

The Bank of Arizona was the very first business in the Arizona Territory to focus only on banking. It started in 1877. The original building was soon too small, so a grand new one was built in 1900. This new bank building showed how successful Prescott was becoming. It had strong stone and brick walls, and big columns at the entrance. Famous people like General George Crook and Governor John Fremont were customers here!

Right next to the bank is the Electric Building, built in 1898. This building was special because it survived a huge fire in 1900. For a while, the Bank of Arizona even used it as a temporary office. The Electric Building has a unique style with a large, fancy window. It's the only building of its kind in Prescott.

Bashford Block

This spot was once home to A.G. Dunn's Butcher Shop, which sold fresh local beef. Later, it became a drug store, and in 1899, Harry Brisley bought it. Brisley's sold medicines, medical supplies, and even perfumes. But their most popular item was the picture postcard, which Harry Brisley was the first to bring to Prescott!

After the big fire of 1900, a new brick building was constructed here. In 1932, the Eagle Drug Store, which used to be Brisley's, opened a lunch counter. Many local girls worked there to help pay for high school. The Eagle was a popular meeting spot where everyone heard the latest news. It was famous for its 5-cent coffee, which many called "the best coffee in town." The lunch counter closed in 1974.

Bashford Burmister Company

Coles Bashford arrived in Prescott in 1864 and became the first President of the Arizona Territorial Legislature. In 1874, he and his family started a business with Robert Burmister. The Bashford-Burmister Company grew into one of the biggest stores in northern Arizona. They sold everything from mining tools to fresh vegetables! Coles Bashford even advertised that his store was the only one in Arizona that received goods directly from New York City.

The original building burned down in the 1900 fire. The brick building you see today was built after the fire. It was later updated in 1929 with an Art Deco style. In the 1940s, J.C. Penney took over the location. Today, after being renovated in 1994, it's still a busy shopping area in downtown Prescott.

Buckey O'Neill VFW Post 541

This VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) post was started in January 1921. It's named after William "Bucky" O'Neill, a famous Rough Rider. This post is the oldest active VFW post in Arizona!

Bucky O'Neill was born in 1860. He was a very accomplished person: a lawyer, judge, sheriff, newspaper editor, and even Mayor of Prescott. He was killed in action on July 1, 1898, during the battle for San Juan Hill in Cuba. On his grave at Arlington National Cemetery, it says, "Who would not die for a new star on the flag."

The Carnegie Library

Prescott's first library started with over 300 books brought to the territory in 1864. Later, in 1870, local women opened a reading room with books collected from citizens. In 1895, the Women's Club of Prescott (now called the "Monday Club") was formed. Their big dream was to create a free library that was a fun place to visit.

In 1899, a member of the Monday Club, Julia Goldwater, wrote to Andrew Carnegie asking for money for a library. Carnegie offered half the amount needed, saying the community had to raise the other half. They did it! But then, the fire of 1900 destroyed all the books. The Monday Club ladies didn't give up. They collected new books, and the Prescott Public Free Library (Carnegie Library) finally opened on November 24, 1903. This beautiful building, made of brick and stone, served Prescott until 1974 when the current Prescott Public Library opened.

Citizens Cemetery

Citizens Cemetery was started in June 1864 with the burial of Joel Woods. It has been known by many names over the years, but "Citizen's Cemetery" became official in 1872. The land was eventually given to Yavapai County in 1884. People could "lease" burial spots for 99 years for just $2.50!

Burials happened regularly until 1933. This cemetery holds the graves of more than 2,500 people, including many who helped settle and develop central Arizona in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In 1934, a stone wall was built around the 6.5-acre cemetery. A new stone wall and entrance were built in 2000. Citizens Cemetery is a very important historical site.

City Jail and Firehouse

This building, built in 1895, served as both a fire station on the first floor and the city jail on the second. It's one of only two buildings facing the Courthouse Plaza that survived the great fire of 1900!

After a new fire station and jail were built, this building was used for different things. It was covered in stucco, hiding its original look. But in 1980, careful restoration work brought back its beautiful tufa stone work, which was quarried right here in Prescott.

City Park and Ballfield, Now Ken Lindley Field

Ken Lindley Field, a historic park and ballfield in Prescott.

This area, now known as Ken Lindley Field, is a very important historical site. It has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior. This means it's recognized nationally for its historical value.

Site of Curtis Hall, Curtis Duplex & Curtis Cottages

George W. Curtis came to Prescott in 1864. In 1878, he and his brother John made a building on Granite Creek much larger. This building was called Curtis Hall. It was used as the meeting place for the Territorial Legislature from 1879 to 1885 and also as City Hall. People described Curtis Hall as a "mammoth frame house" that was bigger than any other building in town.

By the mid-1880s, Curtis Hall was gone, and the Curtis Duplex was built in the same spot. This duplex was a one-story wooden building with a porch. It was an unusual example of housing for more than one family around 1880.

Around 1881, the Curtis brothers also built three "cottages" nearby. These small houses were good examples of homes for working-class people in Prescott in the 1880s. One of these cottages, though changed over time, still stands today at 125 South McCormick Street. The Curtis Duplex and the other two cottages were taken down in 1988.

The Day Octagon

The Day Octagon, built in 1877, is the oldest known fired brick building in Arizona. It was built for Dr. Warren E. Day and was important because it was the first surgical hospital in Arizona Territory. Dr. Day did all sorts of medical work here, from pulling teeth to delivering babies. The building's unique eight-sided shape was inspired by a book that suggested this shape was best for houses.

Dr. Warren E. Day was a fascinating person. He was a brave doctor during the Civil War. In 1876, he came to Prescott to start his medical practice. He continued to work in the area until the 1920s. The Day Octagon was fully restored in 1987 and is now a historic landmark.

The Ehle Family and the Montezuma Hotel

Joseph and Margaret Ehle arrived in Prescott in 1864 with their children. Mr. Ehle helped build the log Governor's Mansion. The Ehles were the first settlers in the area to have honeybees and chickens. Mrs. Ehle, known as "Grandmother Ehle," also brought the first sewing machine to Prescott! Their daughter, Mary Jane, was Prescott's first bride.

In 1868, the Ehles opened the Montezuma Hotel. A local newspaper reported that the hotel was "crowded with guests" and offered "first-class" meals. They later built a home next door. Mrs. Ehle passed away there in 1905. Joseph Ehle lived to be 98 years old.

The Fire of 1900

A terrible fire on the night of July 14, 1900, completely changed downtown Prescott. It started in a hotel and quickly spread, burning down almost all the buildings on "Whiskey Row" and much of the business district. Even though some buildings were brick, many were wood, and the destruction was huge. Over 80 businesses were destroyed.

Prescott had fires before, but this was the worst. However, the people of Prescott were brave and determined. They immediately started rebuilding, this time using stronger materials like brick, concrete, and stone. Within three days, construction began! Businesses quickly reopened in tents and temporary sheds on the courthouse lawn. Only a few buildings from before the fire still stand today, like the City Jail and Fire Station.

J.I. Gardner Store

J. I. Gardner came to Prescott in 1879 and opened his first store in 1883. The J. I. Gardner Store was built on this corner in 1890. Gardner's promise was "all goods guaranteed to be first class." They sold every kind of general supply, including fresh fruit, coffee, spices, household items, clothes, and even toys! Many customers paid with gold, but others traded valuable items like livestock. Gardner's even had a mail-order service, sending goods by train to distant places. Today, the Gardner Store building is a restaurant, but it still looks much like the original store.

Site of Goldwater Brothers Mercantile

The Goldwater Brothers, Morris and Michael, came to Arizona in 1876. They opened one of the first general stores in the area. Three years later, they built a new, bigger store at this location. Morris Goldwater was an important citizen of early Prescott, serving as mayor many times. Both of the Goldwater homes in Prescott are still standing today. In 1964, Morris's nephew, Barry, announced he was running for President of the United States from the Courthouse steps across the street. This building, later known as the "Studio Theater," was taken down in 1978.

Grace M. Sparks

Grace M. Sparkes (1893-1963) came to Prescott at age 14 in 1906. By 1911, she was working for the Yavapai County Chamber of Commerce as Secretary, a job she held for 34 years. She was very important in keeping Yavapai County's economy strong through tourism, health, mining, ranching, and forestry.

Among her many achievements, Miss Sparkes produced the Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo for 30 years and created the "Prescott Rules" used for rodeos across the West. She helped fund the Hassayampa Hotel, published Yavapai Magazine, and worked with historian Sharlot Hall to secure a reservation for the Yavapai Indians in 1935. She also worked to improve roads and directed many public works projects for the county. Projects built under her guidance include the Sharlot Hall Building, the Hospital at Ft. Whipple, the Smoki Museum, Ken Lindley Field, Prescott High School, and several bridges. Grace Sparkes was a true leader in Arizona's development.

Granite Creek

Granite Creek has played a huge role in Prescott's history. The first known Anglo-Americans to camp near Prescott were the Walker and Weaver parties in 1863, right on the banks of Granite Creek. The creek quickly attracted explorers, miners, and settlers.

Early activities along Granite Creek included panning for gold, picnics, and the location of Prescott's first store and school. There were also many shacks, saloons, and Chinese and Mexican settlements. Later, larger homes, warehouses, and farms were built. Legend says that saloon patrons kept falling into Granite Creek, so many saloons moved to "Whiskey Row," which was safer because it was further from the creek.

Granite Creek also supports many trees, shrubs, and grasses. About 75% of local wildlife depend on it. Over the last 150 years, the creek has changed a lot, with parts being straightened, mined, and built upon. In the 1990s, local groups started working to protect and restore the streamside habitat. The trail you can see below was the first step in this effort.

Head Hotel

Colonel C. P. Head was in the hardware business in Prescott by 1866. By 1875, he was involved in several businesses, including a hotel. He was described as an "excellent gentleman" and a "business man of wealth."

By 1916, Prescott had 16 hotels, including the 80-room Head Hotel. Built by A. J. Head right after the 1900 fire, this "grand brick" hotel was three stories tall with balconies. Unlike many hotels of its time, the Head Hotel offered steam heat and hot and cold water in every room. Twenty rooms even had private baths! The first floor had shops like a restaurant, flower shop, newsstand, and barber shop. In the 1980s, the Head Hotel was heavily remodeled on the outside.

Hotel St. Michael

The Hotel St. Michael is a key part of historic "Whiskey Row." It was built on the site of the Hotel Burke, which burned down in 1900. The new three-story hotel, opened in 1901, was designed in a grand style with stone faces, sometimes called "gargoyles," that supposedly looked like local politicians!

The hotel offered "gracious accommodations" and the most modern features of the time. Many famous visitors have stayed here, including President Theodore Roosevelt, boxer John L. Sullivan, actor Tom Mix, and author Zane Grey. The Hotel St. Michael is a great example of early 20th-century Western hotels in Prescott and reminds us of the city's colorful past.

Hotel Vendome

The Hotel Vendome was built in 1917. A newspaper article at the time called it an "apartment house," and a magazine said its construction would help with the housing shortage in town. The hotel is made of dark red brick with a traditional brick design. A two-story porch stretches across the front of the building. It's the only two-story building in Prescott built just for homes during the early 1900s.

The Hotel Vendome was advertised as a "charming small hotel" with 30 rooms and 16 baths. It had wide porches, a nice lobby, hot and cold water in all rooms, phone service, steam heat, and free parking. Rates were very reasonable. One of its most famous guests was Tom Mix, who rented a room by the year. The Hotel Vendome was restored and updated in 1983 and is now a historic landmark.

Site of Howey's Hall

This corner was the site of Howey's Hall, built by James Howey in 1876. It was one of the first lots sold in Prescott. The Goldwater Brothers had their first store here. Later, it became an opera house "dedicated to mirth and dancing." It was a secondhand store when the City bought it in 1904 for a fire station. Howey's Hall was taken down in 1959 and replaced by today's City Hall.

Knights of Pythias Building

Except for the Courthouse, the Knights of Pythias Building has always been the tallest building on the Plaza, standing 46 feet high. It was dedicated on November 27, 1895, and is one of the few buildings that survived the 1900 fire.

The building originally had shops on the first floor, offices on the second, and a large meeting hall on the third floor for the Knights of Pythias. This was a social club for many of Prescott's important men. After being scorched in the fire, the front was covered to look like stone. The building was partly restored in 1995.

Lincoln School

In 1908, the Prescott School Board decided a new school was needed. Voters approved the idea, and a three-acre site on Park Avenue was chosen because it was becoming a popular neighborhood. The school was designed in a traditional style with classical influences and was built of red brick. The north building of Lincoln School opened in late 1909.

By 1930, Prescott schools were very crowded, and Lincoln School, designed for 200 students, had 420! So, another building was added to the campus. In 1999, Lincoln School celebrated its 90th birthday with many former teachers and students. Lincoln School is Prescott's second elementary school and holds an important place in the community's history. It is a historic landmark.

Montezuma Street

The 100 block of South Montezuma Street has long been known as "Whiskey Row" because of the many saloons that used to line the street. As a local poet once wrote, people would start at one end and work their way down!

On July 14, 1900, this entire block was destroyed by fire. But within a few days, new construction began, using brick and stone. Most of the buildings on this block were built between 1900 and 1905. These include the Sam'l Hill Hardware Company, the Highland Hotel, the Palace, the Levey Building, and the Hotel St. Michael. All these buildings were built to last and look good, creating a unique turn-of-the-century look that is still mostly the same today.

Mulvenon Building

The Mulvenon Building was finished in August 1901, making it one of the first buildings constructed after the 1900 fire. It replaced a wooden saloon that was destroyed. Built by William J. Mulvenon, who arrived in Prescott in 1876, it has a large arch over the main entrance. It's made of local brick, with better quality brick on the front.

Originally, the building had two shops on the ground floor and hotel rooms on the second. One side was a tire repair shop, and the other was a saloon. Rooms were rented out until 1991. In 1991, the building was restored and turned into a bar and restaurant.

W.J. Mulvenon was a stable keeper, deputy sheriff, and sheriff of Yavapai County. He helped bring law and order during a conflict called the Pleasant Valley War. He also helped start the first ice plant in Prescott and the Arizona Brewing Company. The Mulvenon Building is a historic landmark.

Nob Hill

This area was originally part of the Capital Block, set aside in 1864 for a Territorial Capitol Building. John Lawler, a miner and real estate developer, bought the southern half and built a "double house" here. The Lawler House was unique because it was one building containing two separate homes. It was also very simple, without the fancy decorations popular at the time.

Between 1893 and 1899, Lawler sold lots to three wealthy people, creating a "Nob Hill" district like the famous one in San Francisco. Homes were built by Henry Goldwater, C.A. Peter, and Jake Marks. The Henry Goldwater House (1894) has a Victorian style. The C. A. Peter House (1989) is a beautiful Queen Anne style Victorian. Jake Marks, a wealthy rancher, built his Queen Anne style house in 1894, which includes a turret. All these houses have been restored and are historic landmarks.

O'Neill/Munds House

A beautiful Victorian Cottage once stood on this site. On November 15, 1893, William Owen (Buckey) O'Neill and his wife Pauline moved in. O'Neill used part of the upstairs as his office, where he published his livestock newspaper, "Hoof and Horn."

O'Neill came to Arizona in 1879. He married Pauline Marie Schindler in 1886. He was elected Probate Judge, then Sheriff of Yavapai County, and later Mayor of Prescott. Pauline also held political positions, showing her interest in women's right to vote and prohibition.

Roughrider Captain William "Buckey" O'Neill was killed in Cuba in 1898. Pauline, who was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 1917, sold the house in 1902. The O'Neill/Munds House later burned down and was removed.

The Palace Saloon

The exact age of Prescott's Palace Saloon is a bit of a mystery, but it was first mentioned in a newspaper in 1877. An 1883 fire destroyed most of "The Row," including the Palace. The owner, Robert Brow, rebuilt it with brick, a stone foundation, and an iron roof. The inside was fancy, with a long bar and gaming tables.

On July 14, 1900, much of downtown Prescott burned, including the "fireproof" Palace Saloon. But people managed to save much of the liquor and the bar, moving them across the street to the Plaza where drinks were served as the fire raged! After the fire, Robert Brow and other saloon owners decided to build "the finest and best club house, saloon, café, etc. that Arizona has ever had."

The new Palace Hotel, opened in 1901, was the most elegant place on "The Row." Newspapers described its furnishings as "rich and elegant." A glass of beer cost five cents, and people could even pay with raw gold. In 1907, a law outlawed gambling, and Prohibition during World War I closed many saloons, but the Palace survived. In 1996, the Palace was restored to its 1901 elegance. It is now a historic landmark.

Plaza Bandstand

As early as 1865, a Brass Band was formed in Prescott. By the 1870s, military bands from Ft. Whipple were popular. The first Plaza Bandstand, built in the late 1800s, survived the 1900 fire but was later removed. In 1908, the Prescott Brass Band wanted a new, permanent Bandstand.

In May 1910, Henry Rockmark was hired to build the new Bandstand. The summer of 1910 was special for Arizona as the statehood bill passed. Territorial Governor Richard E. Sloan was the guest of honor for the Statehood and Fourth of July celebration. From the new Bandstand, the Prescott Concert Band played, and the Governor gave a speech for the planting of the Statehood Tree. This was the first official ceremony at the new Bandstand. It is still used today for weddings, Sunday schools, and Christmas events.

Prescott

Prescott was founded in 1864 on Granite Creek, where gold was found. It was named after historian William Hickling Prescott. John N. Goodwin, appointed by Abraham Lincoln, made Prescott the first capital of Arizona Territory. The first legislature met here in 1865. Prescott also had Arizona's first graded school. A terrible fire in 1900, started by a miner's candle, destroyed four blocks around this area. Prescott is now a center for ranching, mining, and health. The Whipple Veterans Hospital is located here, as is the First Governor's Mansion and the Arizona Pioneer's Home. Frontier Days, the oldest rodeo in the West, started here.

Prescott's Beginnings: The First Mining District in Yavapai County

Prescott began in the spring of 1863 when a group of explorers and gold miners, led by Joseph R. Walker, arrived near the Hassayampa River. On May 10, 1863, about six miles south of this Plaza, 25 members of the Walker Prospecting and Mining Company created "Laws and Resolutions" for the first mining district in what would become Yavapai County. These rules were like Prescott's birth certificate and set the foundation for mining law in central Arizona.

This started a gold rush that led to the settlement and development of central Arizona, and Prescott was chosen as the first Territorial Capital. Before this, the area was mostly unknown to white men, and gold mining was only known along the Colorado and Gila Rivers.

Joseph R. Walker led this group from California through parts of Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. John W. (Jack) Swilling joined the group and guided them to where he had seen signs of gold years earlier. When the company officially disbanded six months later, Captain Walker said, "We opened the door and held it open to civilization and now civilization will do the rest."

• Jack W. (Jack) Swilling (1830 - 1878): He led the first group of non-Native Americans to explore the Hassayampa River in 1860, where they found great signs of gold. In 1867, Swilling started the first canal building company in the Salt River Valley, which led to the beginnings of Phoenix.
• Joseph R. Walker (1798 - 1876): He played a big role in opening the American West for half a century. He was a fur trader, trapper, explorer, and guide, known for finding paths through unknown parts of the United States. This famous frontiersman was on his last great adventure when he led a group of fortune seekers to this undeveloped area.

Prescott High School and the Yavapai Club

Three important buildings once stood on East Gurley Street: The Territorial Capital Building, Prescott High School, and the Yavapai Club.

The red brick building that housed the Territorial Legislature and Prescott City Hall was built in 1884. In 1904, it was remodeled to be a high school. In 1914, it was torn down, and a new, "splendid" high school was built. By 1930, this was also too small, so a junior high school was added in 1931.

Meanwhile, in 1903, railroad businessman Frank Murphy bought the building along South Marina Street. The Dake Opera House and other homes were taken down to build the Yavapai Club. This club was for businessmen to help the community and socialize. It was in "one of the finest buildings in Arizona" and had a library, game room, restaurant, bowling alley, and a ballroom. After a fire in 1907, the Club was restored. In the 1930s, it was given to the high school and used for art and music classes. It was torn down around 1941. In 1976, the entire block was cleared for a new Yavapai County Administration complex.

Prescott National Bank

The Prescott National Bank was started in March 1893. In October 1900, the bank president announced a new bank building would be built at Prescott's "banking intersection" of Gurley and Cortez. The building was finished in January 1902. It was made of yellow brick with stone accents and had identical entrances on both Gurley and Cortez Streets, each with two sets of blue granite columns.

The bank closed in 1920. In 1922, Valley Bank moved into the building. It stopped being a bank in 1957 and was used for retail. In 1998, the building was restored for use as professional offices.

Prescott National Guard Armory

Prescott was one of the first towns in Arizona to have a National Guard Unit, starting in 1865. Company M of the 158th Infantry of the National Guard of Arizona was recognized in 1930. This company first used a church as their Armory, but it was "totally inadequate."

The Prescott National Guard Armory, a large building on East Gurley Street, was designed by architect Orville A. Bell. It was built on land donated by the City of Prescott. This was a project of the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.P.), started in March 1936 and finished in November 1939. The Armory was designed to look like a fortress, made of reinforced concrete with local granite and sandstone.

In July 1980, the Armory was no longer needed by the Arizona National Guard and was given to the City of Prescott. Today, it is used as a multi-purpose facility for City Parks and Recreation. The Prescott National Guard Armory is a historic landmark.

Prescott Public Library

Prescott's modern public library opened on May 18, 1975. But the idea of a public library in Prescott goes back to August 1895, when seven local ladies started the Women's Club of Prescott. They collected books and opened a reading room. Their dream was to create a free reading room.

In 1899, Julia Goldwater wrote to Andrew Carnegie asking for help. Carnegie offered $4,000, saying the community had to raise the same amount. They did, and in 1903, the Carnegie Library was completed. This was Prescott's public library until 1975, when the current library building was finished.

Prescott Public Library offers books, magazines, newspapers, computers, internet, summer reading programs, story hours, and meeting rooms. It's one of the most used libraries in Arizona. In 1998, to help with parking, the City bought the property next door and built a new parking lot. A special feature of this property is an Arizona White Oak tree, estimated to be over 300 years old! This tree grows very slowly and can live for 500 years. The parking lot was designed around the tree to protect it, creating a small park area.

Ruffner Plaza Stables

The Ruffner Plaza Stables were built on this lot, purchased for $3,600. In May 1898, a local newspaper called it "one of the most substantial as well as ornamental improvements." It was said to be one of the most beautiful buildings of its kind in the Southwest. In 1922, Ruffner sold the business, and the building was remodeled into a modern garage. The building later burned down.

The owner, George Ruffner, was described as "a man of honest and respectable industry." He came to Arizona in 1881 and worked as a cowboy. In 1888, Ruffner helped organize Prescott's World's Oldest Rodeo and carried the American flag in every Fourth of July parade until he passed away in 1933. In 1893, he became a Deputy Sheriff of Yavapai County and was later elected Sheriff. He served five terms and was the first person from Arizona inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners in the Cowboy Hall of Fame.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Rectory

In the fall of 1878, the Sisters of St. Joseph came to Prescott. Money was raised to build a hospital for the sisters, which was completed in 1881. In June 1891, construction began next door on Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The church was designed by Frank Parker under the guidance of Father Alfred Quetu, who was the main force behind its building. The first services were held on February 17, 1895.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a strong brick building in a "Sober Gothic Style," with pointed arches and decorative brickwork. It's one of the best examples of religious architecture in Arizona. Originally, the church had a steeple 115 feet tall, but it was removed in 1930 after being struck by lightning several times. In 1915, the old hospital was torn down, and the Rectory was built next door. A new hospital had been built in 1898 and was named Sisters of Mercy Hospital.

The church was last used for religious services on June 13, 1969. In 1969, the Prescott Fine Arts Association bought the property to use as a theater and art gallery. This is a great example of how a historic building can be adapted for new uses that benefit the community. The church and rectory are historic landmarks.

Santa Fe Depot

Prescott's first railroad arrived on December 31, 1886. The current depot was built by the Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway in 1907. It was designed in the Mission Revival style, made of poured concrete with a curved tile roof. It stands in an important spot at the north end of Cortez Street and was the main center for shipping and receiving in Yavapai County.

The train tracks were last used on December 31, 1986, exactly 100 years after the railroad first arrived. The tracks were removed, and the Depot, which had been empty for a long time, has now been restored and turned into professional offices.

Territorial Capital

Prescott, the county seat of Yavapai County, was founded in 1864 on Granite Creek, where gold was found. It was named after historian William Hickling Prescott. The first Governor, John N. Goodwin, who was appointed by Abraham Lincoln, established the first territorial capital of Arizona here, at the Governor's mansion. Two blocks west, the first legislature met on July 10, 1865. Prescott was also the site of Arizona's first graded school. A terrible fire, started by a miner's candle, destroyed four blocks around this square in 1900.

Site of Territorial Courthouse

The courthouse you see today was built in 1916 and is a historic landmark. But it's not the first one on this site! The first courthouse on the Plaza, which was set aside for government use in 1864, was a smaller but more detailed brick building constructed in 1878. It was an impressive building that quickly became a symbol for Yavapai County. Many important legal cases were heard here when Prescott was the Territorial Capital of Arizona (1864–1867 and 1877–1889). Arizona became a state in 1912, four years before the current courthouse was built.

Washington School

Prescott's first public school opened in 1867. In 1876, a four-room brick public school building was built here, known as the "Prescott Free Academy." In 1903, that building was torn down and replaced by Washington School. Washington School was designed in a classical style and built of deep red brick with stone and cement trim. It opened on September 1, 1903, and the bell from the old Prescott Free Academy was hung in its bell tower. In 1914, a second building was constructed for manual arts and domestic science classes, but this building was torn down in 1979. A second annex building, built in 1930, is still in use.

Washington School is the oldest school building in Yavapai County that has been used continuously as a school, and it might even be the oldest school building in all of Arizona still in use! A 1903 newspaper article said Washington School was "one of the best, most complete and thoroughly equipped (schools)" and important for education and the city's growth. Washington School reminds us of Prescott's history and connects the past with the future of education. It is a historic landmark.

Pauline Weaver

Pauline Weaver (1800-1867) is known as Prescott's first citizen. He was a trapper, miner, Army Scout, and a friend to Native Americans. He was camped near this spot in 1863 and 1864 when gold miners and government officials first came to the area.

Pauline Weaver was truly a great man. Born in Tennessee in 1800, he lived and died on the frontier, always moving westward with civilization. He was the first settler on the site of Prescott. He was descended from both white and Native American people, and his greatest achievement was being a peacemaker between the two groups, understanding their true hearts like few others did. He was a free trapper, fur trader, empire builder, and patriot.

"Whiskey Row"

By the early 1870s, a whole block of saloons, gambling halls, and hotels made this the liveliest part of town. Some saloons even made their own beer! On July 14, 1900, a terrible fire swept through "The Row" and destroyed four and a half blocks of the business district. But "The Row" was rebuilt quickly and still serves as a central part of Prescott today.

Images for kids

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  Ken Lindley Field, a historic park and ballfield in Prescott.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Prescott, Arizona
• List of National Historic Landmarks in Arizona