Whiskey Row, Prescott facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whiskey Row |
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A pub on Whiskey Row in 2017
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| Built | 1877, 1900 |
| Architectural style(s) | Western |
| Governing body | Arizona Historical Society |
Whiskey Row is a famous block in Prescott, Arizona. Today, you can find it on Montezuma Street, between Goodwin and Gurley Streets. In the past, it sometimes spread onto nearby streets too. The very first Whiskey Row was mainly on the 100 block of Montezuma Street. It also included parts of Cortez and Granite Streets.
Prescott was founded in 1864. Soon after, an area in the town center started to become a popular spot. Many places where people could gather and have fun opened there. The exact start of Whiskey Row is a bit of a mystery. However, we do know that after a big fire in 1877, Whiskey Row became more settled in its current spot. The name "Whiskey Row" first appeared in print in 1883. This was after another fire destroyed most of the block. A third huge fire in 1900 meant the area had to be rebuilt again. Even so, some of the original businesses continued after the rebuilding. At one point, there were more than 40 gathering places standing close together in this district!
The History of Whiskey Row
The beginnings of Whiskey Row are not completely clear. Some stories say it started very soon after Prescott was founded in 1864. One story mentions Isaac Goldberg setting up a simple gathering place. It might have been outside of town, closer to the mining camps. Before the 1877 fire, some accounts say Whiskey Row was closer to Granite Creek. It was later moved to its current spot. This move happened partly because it was safer for people to not have to cross the creek.
Modern Changes and Famous Visitors
In 1897, Whiskey Row became the first part of Prescott to get public lights outside. This was a big step for the town!
Many famous people visited Whiskey Row. Wyatt Earp, his brother Virgil, and Doc Holliday were frequent guests. Virgil Earp even worked as a constable in Prescott. They often visited The Palace Restaurant and Saloon. This historic spot is located right on Whiskey Row. The Palace opened in 1877 and is still open today. This makes it the oldest business in all of Arizona!
The Great Fire of 1900
On July 14, 1900, another massive fire hit Prescott. This fire destroyed five whole city blocks. Most of Whiskey Row was also lost. This event became known as "The Great Fire."
At first, people thought the damage was over $1,000,000. Less than a quarter of that was covered by insurance. Many temporary buildings were quickly put up across the street. These were on the Courthouse plaza. They helped the businesses that had lost their buildings. Later in 1900, the total losses grew to over $1,500,000. Only about $360,000 of this was covered by insurance.
By 1901, the district had been rebuilt. Whiskey Row quickly became the main center of activity for the town once more. It was known as a popular meeting place and a lively spot.
