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| Gurley St., Downtown Prescott |
Here's a listing of all the Prescott Arizona History articles in chronological order!
(Click on the TITLE you wish to see)
Miscellaneous:
The cryptid monsters that live in Arizona are described and explored.
The colorful, true stories behind the Yavapai County, Arizona place names of: Wilhoit; Woodchute Mountain; Bumble Bee; and Big Bug.
The origins of the place names and brief early histories of the following Arizona towns along Route 89: Prescott, Chino Valley, Jerome Junction, Del Rio Springs, Paulden, Sullivan Lake, Hell's Canyon, and Ash Fork.
The early histories and place name origins of Mingus Mountain, Cherry and Yeager Canyon, Arizona.
Pre-1860's:
The Yavapai Indian's origin story includes a "Great Flood" that holds intriguing commonalities with the story of Noah in the Book of Genesis.
The account of the Kakaka, the paranormal, Indian Little People who live in the mountains of Yavapai county and elsewhere in Arizona. They are a vital part of Indian culture, teaching the Native American medicine men.
A description of the archeological findings of the Fitzmaurice Ruin in Prescott Valley, AZ. It's the largest Indian Ruin in the Prescott region.
Story of how Skull Valley, Arizona earned its name as a killing field not once, but twice.
1860's:
The story of one of the worst episodes in the Indian Wars.
Hot-Head Miners Murder 20 Yavapai
The story of one of the first Indian conflicts in Yavapai county. A group of miners unjustly murder 20 Yavapai Indians for a crime they did not commit.
Hot-Head Miners Murder 20 Yavapai
The story of one of the first Indian conflicts in Yavapai county. A group of miners unjustly murder 20 Yavapai Indians for a crime they did not commit.
The colorful history of "Fort Misery". The first building in Prescott would become the oldest surviving log cabin in Arizona.
The Story of the Fight at Battle Flat, June 3rd, 1864, in Yavapai county, AZ. Five prospectors faced several dozen Apaches.
A description of 19th century remedies from nature that were particular to Arizona. Today these seem humorous if not ridiculous!
True story of how the Apache tribe massed to attack Prescott in 1864 and what stopped them.
The Indian War raid by Apache-Mojave Indians that gave Burnt Ranch in Prescott, AZ its name.
See how Native Americans successfully used the tactic of "guerrilla attrition" to keep a prosperous gold mine from operating during the Indian Wars in Yavapai county, Arizona.
The story of the harsh winter of 1864 and how the Miller brothers saved the settlement of Prescott from starvation.
The typical life and times of a mid-19th century pioneer ranch woman in Yavapai county, AZ.
True story of a 1865 clever ambush in the Indian Wars at "Battle Point" where the Skull Valley, AZ depot is located today.
Indian ambushes on Bell's Canyon in Yavapai County, AZ were so notorious that whites eventually allowed it to return to wilderness. It was here that Superintendent of Indian Affairs George W Leihy was murdered November 10, 1866.
The story of a group of Mexican volunteers fighting proudly during the Indian Wars in Yavapai county, Arizona.
1867: The Jack-the-Ripper of Yavapai County?
The shocking story of Indian-killer John B. Townsend who "killer more Apaches than most pioneers had seen."
Spencer Repeating Rifle Rules the Battle of the Black Mountains
The account of the first use of the Spencer Repeating Rifle in the Indian Wars in Arizona. This took place in the Black Mountains just west of the Verde River in April, 1867.
1867: Territorial Capital Departs for Tucson
The account of how Arizona's First Territorial Capital In Prescott moved to Tucson in 1867.
1868-71: The Last Indian Raids on Kirkland ValleyThe story of the last of the Indian raids on Kirkland Valley, Arizona from 1868-1871.
1870's:
Story of how Yavapai county sat helpless in the midst of Native American raids during the Indian Wars.
One man's account of the trials and tribulations of simply traveling to Prescott!
1872: The Gruesome Fate of the Young Braggart
The story of a young pioneer braggart traveling to Yavapai county, Arizona and his terrible fate during the Indian Wars in 1872.
The Incredible Story of the Million-Year-Old Frog
The story of a young pioneer braggart traveling to Yavapai county, Arizona and his terrible fate during the Indian Wars in 1872.
The astonishing story of a frog that survived millions of years embedded in sandstone.
Prescott's 1st Ordinances Reveal the Charm of a Small Village
Prescott, Arizona's first two ordinances (passed May 12, 1873) reveal a charming time when things were much simpler and the village was much smaller.
The True Victims of "Bloody Basin" Were the Yavapai
The Battle of Turret Peak, which Bloody Basin, AZ is named after, was not a victory over hostile Apaches; it was a massacre of friendly Yavapais.
Prescott, Arizona's first two ordinances (passed May 12, 1873) reveal a charming time when things were much simpler and the village was much smaller.
The Battle of Turret Peak, which Bloody Basin, AZ is named after, was not a victory over hostile Apaches; it was a massacre of friendly Yavapais.
True story of how Charles P. Stanton took over the mining town of Antelope Station, Arizona and turned it into his own personal, tyrannical empire.
1876: The American Ranch: The Ritz of Stage Stops
The story of the historic American Ranch stage stop which was located 12 miles from Prescott, AZ. on the Prescott to Hardyville toll road.
The surprising story of "big-box" stores a century and a half ago in Prescott.
Back When Prescott Was "Opium Central"
True story of how Prescott became a hub of opium manufacturing
1880's:
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| On this 1915 map Glassford Hill is labeled as "Bald Mountain". |
The interesting history of Prescott Valley, Arizona's most iconic natural feature, Glassford Hill.
The founding and early history of Mayer, Arizona is inseparable from the biography of the man who founded the town--Joseph Mayer.
Biography of one of the most colorful men to reside in Prescott, Arizona: Buckey O'Neill.
The Forgotten Ghost Town of Placerita
The colorful history of the ghost town of Placerita, AZ and it's founder, Anson Wilbur "Old Grizzly" Callen. It's a story of gold, goats, and killings.
Sheriff's Exploits Were Hollywood; His Appearance Was Not
The Dam, The Drunk, & The Disaster
The complete, heartbreaking story of the Walnut Grove Dam Disaster of 1890 in Yavapai County. It is still regarded as the worst natural disaster in Arizona history.
The Terrible, Shoddy Construction of the Old Courthouse
The story of the slapstick construction of the "Old" (2nd) Yavapai County Courthouse. A sane man might wonder if the Three Stooges didn't paste it together just prior to landing their gig on vaudeville!
1894 Gold Heist Foiled
True tale of how a former Prescott marshall saved a gold shipment with a clever ruse in 1894.
1895: Prescott's First Football Game Hosted Phoenix
The story of the first football game ever played in Prescott, Arizona against Phoenix and how the early game differed from the game today.
Prescott's "Double Decker" Brothel
The story of Prescott, Arizona's only 2 story brothel as told by artifacts found in an archeological survey of the red-light district.
Teddy's Rough Riders Originated in Prescott
The true story of how Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders originated in Prescott, Arizona in 1898.
The colorful history of the ghost town of Placerita, AZ and it's founder, Anson Wilbur "Old Grizzly" Callen. It's a story of gold, goats, and killings.
True story of "Uncle Jim" Roberts; the last of the old-time shooting sheriffs in Yavapai county. Although his exploits would be perfect for a movie, his appearance was far from it.
1890's:
The story of the only known onyx quarry ever discovered on earth and its history in Mayer, Yavapai county, Arizona.
1890's:
The complete, heartbreaking story of the Walnut Grove Dam Disaster of 1890 in Yavapai County. It is still regarded as the worst natural disaster in Arizona history.
The story of the slapstick construction of the "Old" (2nd) Yavapai County Courthouse. A sane man might wonder if the Three Stooges didn't paste it together just prior to landing their gig on vaudeville!
1894 Gold Heist Foiled
True tale of how a former Prescott marshall saved a gold shipment with a clever ruse in 1894.
The story of the first football game ever played in Prescott, Arizona against Phoenix and how the early game differed from the game today.
Prescott's "Double Decker" Brothel
The story of Prescott, Arizona's only 2 story brothel as told by artifacts found in an archeological survey of the red-light district.
The true story of how Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders originated in Prescott, Arizona in 1898.
1900's:
The story of an early Mayer, AZ industry that manufactured toothpicks from cactus needles and what happened to the popular product.
Fantastic story of the finding (and losing) of a small, rich gold vein outside of Jerome Junction, Arizona around 1905.
The charming story of William Howard Taft's visit to Prescott, Arizona in October, 1909.
1910's:
The fun story of early car love and automobile racing. Only 1 car was able to drive back to Prescott, Arizona!
The history of the founding of the Prescott (AZ) Chamber of Commerce. Its earliest successes involved the ordinary citizenry.
The early history of the unique Arizona Pioneers Home in Prescott including why and how it was built.
True Story of a mysterious body found in a crevice in Thumb Butte near Prescott, AZ in 1911.
The true story of a giant humanoid skeleton that was unearthed in Jasper, Yavapai County, AZ in 1911.
The true story of William F "Buffalo Bill" Cody's visit to Prescott, AZ late in 1911. Includes his visit to the Arizona Pioneers' Home and his investment in area mining.
The story of the founding and the surprising early history of Arizona's first Boy Scouts in Prescott.
From 1913-1915 over 100 silent westerns were filmed around Prescott, Arizona
The story of the unintended consequences of alcohol prohibition in Prescott, Arizona
Insights into how people enjoyed themselves a century ago.
Citizens of Prescott, Arizona found out that some large predatory animals were still in the forest when deep snows forced them out of the mountains.
The transition from animals to automobiles was problematic and at times, humorous.
The wet winter of 1915 brought a new resident to the Prescott National Forest: the white-tail deer.
The birth of Watson Lake in Prescott, Arizona brought a region-wide celebration. It was originally intended to irrigate grain crops!
The inspiring story of the christening of the USS Arizona.
The story of what was at the time the worst train wreck in the history of the Peavine Railroad.
Man Kills Two Over a $2 Bet
True crime story about Fred Marshall, who murdered two men after losing a $2 bet in Humboldt, AZ.
Man Kills Two Over a $2 Bet
True crime story about Fred Marshall, who murdered two men after losing a $2 bet in Humboldt, AZ.
When marijuana was legal, Prescott, AZ used to hold annual "Smoker" events where cannabis was recreationally smoked.
The terrifying account of just how wet a winter can be in Yavapai county.
The story of a Russian immigrant colony who came to Chino Valley, AZ to farm in 1916.
Part 1 of a trilogy on the lost history of the Yavapai County Courthouse. Part 1 reveals the need for a new one.
Part 2 of a trilogy on the lost and forgotten history of the Yavapai County Courthouse. Part reveals the mysteries of the cornerstone including the copper box time capsule.
Part 3 of a trilogy on the lost and forgotten history of the Yavapai County Courthouse revealing the interesting story of its massive construction.
The complete story of the lost and forgotten history of the Yavapai County Courthouse and its construction in Prescott, AZ.
The delightful story of the first Christmas tree ever erected on the Courthouse Plaza in Prescott, AZ. in 1916. It was also the first municipal tree in the state of Arizona.
The true crime story of a dynamite attack on J.S. Acker's home in Prescott, AZ on 4/21/1917 and the surprising motive behind the crime.
The colorful history of Mayer, Arizona's iconic smokestack, with a look to its future.
1920's:
The founding, complete early history, and name origin for the ghost town of Cleator, Arizona.
The early history and construction of what is Arizona State Route 89A today. It was originally known as Arizona Highway 79: The Prescott to Jerome "Shortline."
How prairie dogs were made extinct throughout Yavapai County in the first third of the 20th century and the consequences.
The story of a mysterious powder house blast at the United Verde Mine in Jerome, AZ on December 20th, 1925 and its consequences.
Famous record breaking airplane, "The Yankee Doodle" meets its demise in 1928 Prescott, Arizona.
1930's:
Story of gun control in the 1930's in Prescott, Arizona. Children were misusing them!
It first became haunted in 1935 after the death (or was it murder?) of a maintenance man crushed by the elevator. Yet there are many more apparitions in the former hospital.
The intriguing biography of Viola Jimulla, the first woman chief in America. She lead the Prescott Yavapai Tribe through one of there lowest times by relying on her Christian faith.
1937: The Christmas Without Candy
The sad, yet inspiring story of the Christmas of 1937 in Prescott, AZ. The nutritional needs of the city's children was so acute, it was decided not to give candy that year.
The story and history of Sullivan Lake, Arizona (located between Chino Valley and Paulden on "Old Hwy. 89") and the mysterious ruins surrounding it.
1940's:
The story of how Prescott, Arizona developed its current identity.
The history of the USS Yavapai, originally an LST, it became a "floating barracks" and support ship resupplying the smaller ships of the task forces in Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
Heartwarming story of a genius miniature toymaker and his benevolence to the children of Prescott.
1950's:
The story of a rash of Flying Saucers (UFO) sightings around Prescott, AZ, in the first half of 1953. Includes the "Arizona's Roswell" incident around the same time.
The true tale of the 1959 crash of a Lockheed "Super Constellation" near Prescott, AZ and the mystery that lingers.
1960's & Beyond:
The story of Morris Goldwater and his oversight of the early development of Prescott, Arizona.
The delightful and sentimental story of Christmas in Prescott, AZ (and America) in 1966.
The true story of a massive wave of UFO sightings and recorded landing in August, 1970 in Prescott, AZ.
The biography of Bill Fain, the father of Prescott Valley, Arizona and the town's early history and development.
A review of the book "Story of a Hanged Man" by Parker Anderson; a historical account of the life and times of Fleming James Parker, Arizona outlaw.
A book review of Brad Courtney's "Prescott's Original Whiskey Row;" a well written and researched account of the earliest days in Prescott, Arizona's social and business center.
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| Old Courthouse, 1885 |
