National Register of Historic Places listings in Cochise County, Arizona facts for kids
Welcome to Cochise County, Arizona! This area is full of amazing places that tell stories about the past. Many of these special spots are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is like a national list of important buildings, sites, and districts that are worth preserving because of their history, architecture, or what they mean to American culture.
In Cochise County, there are 86 places on this list. Eight of them are even more special and are called National Historic Landmarks. These landmarks are recognized as being important to the entire country! Let's explore some of these cool historic places and learn about the people and events that shaped them.
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Cool Historic Buildings and Towns
Cochise County has many old buildings and entire towns that are like stepping back in time.
Bisbee's Historic Charm
The town of Bisbee is famous for its mining history. It has two large historic districts on the National Register:
- Bisbee Historic District: This area includes the main part of old Bisbee, with its unique buildings built into the hillsides.
- Bisbee Residential Historic District: This district covers many of the homes where miners and other residents lived.
- Phelps Dodge General Office Building: Located in Bisbee, this building was once the main office for the huge Phelps Dodge mining company. It's now a National Historic Landmark!
- Bisbee Woman's Club Clubhouse: This building was home to a club for women in Bisbee, showing how important community groups were in the past.
- Muheim House: A beautiful historic home in Bisbee that gives us a peek into how people lived long ago.
- St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church: This church on Higgins Hill is another important historic building in Bisbee.
- Walter Douglas House: Also known as Loma Linda, this house in Bisbee belonged to Walter Douglas, a key figure in the mining industry.
- John Treu House: Located in the Warren Townsite area of Bisbee, this house is another example of the historic homes in the area.
Douglas: A Border Town's Past
Douglas is a city right on the border with Mexico, and it has a rich history too.
- Douglas Historic District: This large area includes many important buildings in the heart of Douglas.
- Douglas Residential Historic District: This district shows us the types of homes people lived in during Douglas's early days.
- Douglas Sonoran Historic District: Another historic area in Douglas, known for its unique architectural style.
- El Paso and Southwestern Railroad Passenger Depot-Douglas: This old train station was a busy place when trains were the main way to travel and ship goods.
- El Paso and Southwestern Railroad YMCA: The YMCA provided a place for railroad workers to stay and relax.
- Gadsden Hotel: A grand and famous hotel in Douglas, known for its beautiful lobby and historic importance.
- Grand Theatre: This old theater was once a popular spot for entertainment in Douglas.
- U.S. Inspection Station--Douglas, Arizona: This building was part of the border crossing, where people and goods were checked as they entered the U U.S.
- US Post Office and Customs House-Douglas Main: This building served as both the post office and the customs house, handling mail and border trade.
Tombstone: The Wild West Lives On
Tombstone is famous for its Wild West history, including the O.K. Corral shootout.
- Tombstone Historic District: This entire district is a National Historic Landmark, preserving the look and feel of the old mining town.
- Tombstone City Hall: The historic building where Tombstone's local government operated.
- Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park: This old courthouse is now a museum where you can learn about the town's past.
- Sacred Heart Church: A historic church in Tombstone.
- St. Paul's Episcopal Church: Another historic church in Tombstone, built in 1882.
Benson's Railroad and Barrio History
Benson also has several historic areas:
- Benson Railroad Historic District: This district highlights the importance of the railroad to Benson's growth.
- Benson Historic Barrio: This area shows the historic homes and community of the Hispanic population in Benson.
- Apache Powder Historic Residential District: This district includes homes built for workers of the Apache Powder Company, an important local industry.
- Hi Wo Company Grocery: An old grocery store that served the community.
- Oasis Court: A historic motel, showing how travelers were accommodated in the past.
- W.D. Martinez General Merchandise Store: This old store was a general merchandise store, selling a variety of goods.
- Max Treu Territorial Meat Company: An old meat company building.
- Redfield-Romine House: A historic house in Benson.
- Smith-Beck House: Another historic home in Benson.
Willcox's Early Homes and Clubs
Willcox has many historic homes and buildings that show its early development.
- Railroad Avenue Historic District: This area in Willcox was important because of its connection to the railroad.
- Benjamin E. Briscoe House: A historic home in Willcox.
- Crowley House: Another historic house in Willcox.
- John Gung'l House: This house belonged to John Gung'l.
- Hooker Town House: A historic house in Willcox.
- Johnson-Tillotson House: Another historic home in Willcox.
- Joe Mee House: This house belonged to Joe Mee.
- Morgan House: A historic house in Willcox.
- John H. Norton and Company Store: An old store in Willcox.
- Harry Saxon House: This house belonged to Harry Saxon.
- Schwertner House: A historic house in Willcox.
- Pablo Soto House: This house belonged to Pablo Soto.
- Willcox Women's Club: The clubhouse for the Willcox Women's Club.
- J.C. Wilson House: Another historic house in Willcox.
Other Notable Buildings
- Cochise Hotel: Located in the town of Cochise, this old hotel is a historic landmark.
- Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church: This church in Pearce is a beautiful historic building.
- Pearce General Store: An old general store in Pearce, a historic mining town.
- J.H. Smith Grocery Store and Filling Station: This old store and gas station in Dragoon shows how businesses used to look.
- Bowie School District No. 14: This historic school building in Bowie served the local community for many years.
Historic Military and Border Sites
Cochise County has a strong connection to military history and border protection.
Fort Huachuca: A Living History
Fort Huachuca is a very important military base that has been active for a long time. It's a National Historic Landmark District because of its role in U.S. military history, especially during the Apache Wars and later as a training ground. It's still an active base today!
- Mountain View Officers' Club: This club at Fort Huachuca was a place for officers to gather.
Fort Bowie: Apache Wars History
Fort Bowie National Historic Site is where many important events of the Apache Wars took place. It was a key military post in the late 1800s. Today, you can visit the ruins and learn about the conflicts and peace efforts between the U.S. Army and the Apache people.
Camp Naco: Border Patrol History
Camp Naco Historic District is a former U.S. Army camp near the border town of Naco. It played a role in border security and military operations in the early 20th century.
- Naco Border Station: This building was part of the official border crossing at Naco.
Coronado National Memorial
The Coronado National Memorial commemorates the first major European expedition into the American Southwest, led by Francisco Vázquez de Coronado in 1540. It's a place to learn about the early interactions between European explorers and Native American communities.
Ancient Sites and Natural Wonders
Cochise County is also home to very old archaeological sites and beautiful natural areas.
Chiricahua National Monument
The Chiricahua National Monument Historic Designed Landscape is a stunning area known for its unique rock formations, often called "stone forests." It's a National Monument, meaning it's protected for its natural beauty and historical significance.
- Stafford Cabin: A historic cabin located within the Chiricahua National Monument.
- Faraway Ranch Historic District: This historic ranch is also located near the Chiricahua National Monument.
Prehistoric Kill Sites
- Double Adobe Site: This site near Douglas is a National Historic Landmark because it's one of the oldest known places where early humans hunted large animals like mammoths.
- Lehner Mammoth-Kill Site: Another National Historic Landmark near Hereford, this site provides important clues about the Clovis culture, an ancient group of people who hunted mammoths.
- Murray Springs Clovis Site: Also near Sierra Vista, this is another National Historic Landmark that gives us insights into the Clovis culture and how they hunted mammoths.
- Naco-Mammoth Kill Site: This site near Naco was the first place where a Clovis culture mammoth-kill site was discovered, making it very important for understanding early human history in North America.
Archaeological Districts and Petroglyphs
- Council Rocks Archaeological District: This site near St. David is an archaeological district, meaning it contains important remains from past human activity.
- Garden Canyon Archeological Site: An archaeological site near Sierra Vista.
- Garden Canyon Petroglyphs: These ancient rock carvings (petroglyphs) in Garden Canyon near Sierra Vista tell stories from the past.
- Rucker Canyon Archeological District: Another archaeological district near Douglas.
- Quiburi: This site near Fairbank is an important archaeological site.
Other Historic Places
- San Bernardino Ranch: This ranch near Douglas is a National Historic Landmark because it's linked to the early days of cattle ranching in Arizona and Mexico.
- Sierra Bonita Ranch: Located near Bonita, this ranch is also a National Historic Landmark and is one of the oldest working ranches in Arizona.
- Dragoon Springs Stage Station Site: This site near Dragoon was an important stop for stagecoaches in the old West.
- Hereford Bridge: This historic bridge crosses the San Pedro River near Hereford.
- Kinjockity Ranch: A historic ranch near Hereford.
- Geronimo Surrender Site: This bluff overlooking Skeleton Canyon near Douglas is where the famous Apache leader Geronimo surrendered in 1886, marking the end of the Apache Wars.
- Fry Pioneer Cemetery: This historic cemetery in Sierra Vista is the resting place for many early settlers of the area.
- Schilling Ranch Historic District: This historic ranch district near Corral shows what ranch life was like in the past.
Fire Lookouts
Cochise County also has historic fire lookouts, which were important for spotting wildfires in the past.
- Barfoot Lookout Complex: This lookout near Portal was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1935 and was active for over 65 years. Sadly, it was destroyed by a wildfire in 2011, but its foundation remains.
- Cima Park Fire Guard Station: Located in the Coronado National Forest near Douglas, this was another important fire lookout.
- Monte Vista Lookout Cabin: This lookout near Elfrida was also used to spot fires.
- Portal Ranger Station: A historic ranger station near Portal.
- Rustler Park Fire Guard Station: Another fire guard station located in the Coronado National Forest near Douglas.
- Silver Peak Lookout Complex: This lookout near Portal was built by a CCC crew in 1938. It was destroyed by a storm in 1992, but its foundation remains.