This is a list of historic properties in Prescott, Arizona, which includes a photographic gallery of its remaining historic structures and monuments. The city is the county seat of Yavapai County. In 1864 Prescott was designated as the capital of the Arizona Territory, replacing the temporary capital at Fort Whipple. The Territorial Capital was moved to Tucson in 1867. Prescott again became the Territorial Capital in 1877, until Phoenix became the capital in 1889.
Included in this list are photographs of some of the structures within the Downtown Historic Preservation District (which includes "Whiskey Row"), the Courthouse Plaza Historic District, the Fort Whipple-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Historic District and the Sharlot Hall Museum.
Brief history The first known Native-American people to have settled the Prescott area are the Yavapai. The name Yavapai comes from a combination of the words Enyaleva (sun) and pai (people). Some anthropologists trace the Yavapai, also known as the “People of the Sun”, to groups who migrated from the Colorado River regions around 1,300 AD.Arizona's First People The Yavapai were mainly hunter-gatherers, following an annual round, migrating to different areas to follow the ripening of different edible plants and movement of game.Braatz, p. 29
The US military incursions into Yavapai territory greatly increased following the declaration of war against Mexico in May 1845 and especially after the claim by the US of southwest lands under the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, When gold was discovered in California in 1849, emigrants of European descent from the East Coast began to travel to the southwest and passed through Yavapai territory more than they had ever done so before.Braatz, p. 74 Despite the thousands of emigrants passing through their territory, the Yavapai avoided contact with them. However, settlers began moving onto the lands of the Yavapai in the 1820s, and before long had greatly diminished the Yavapai's game and agricultural lands. The Yavapai openly resisted and many were slaughtered.Timothy Braatz Surviving Conquest: A History of the Yavapai Peoples. University of Nebraska Press.
The town-site of Prescott was officially founded in 1864, as the Territorial Capital of Arizona. The secretary of Arizona Territory, Richard Cunningham McCormick, urged that it be named for the historian William H. Prescott, whose books on the conquest of Mexico and Peru McCormick admired. William Hickling Prescott was an American historian and author. He has been called America's first scientific historian.William H. Prescott Prescott's entitlement as capital was sealed by one vote over La Paz by the first legislature. John Noble Goodwin was appointed Territorial Governor by President Abraham Lincoln. He served as such from December 29, 1863, to March 4, 1865. On June 7, 1864, the first lot in Prescott was sold for $175.00. The site where Prescott's City Hall is located in what is now 201 South Cortez Street was declared historical by the Prescott Historical Society.
Fort Whipple was a tactical base for the United States Cavalry during the Indian Wars of 1864–1882. The fort was named after Lt. Amiel Whipple who was the first to discover and establish access to gold fields nearby. This new gold created conflict in the area and Fort Whipple was used to protect miners and settlers from raids. Beginning in 1865, after the American Civil War, the Yavapai were forced to live in reservations when gold was discovered in their territory. The fort was for a short period of time the capital of the Arizona Territory.Fort W hipple
Prescott was incorporated in 1883, obtaining legal title to a town site originally established without regard for federal law replacing the temporary capital at Fort Whipple. Prescott: The Mile-Hi City Was Where It All Began At the same time Prescott was established as the Territorial Capital, it was also designated as the County Seat of Yavapai County, one of four original territorial counties.Brief History of Prescott
Prescott served as the Territorial Capital until 1889, with the exception of the years of 1867–77, when the capital was moved to Tucson. On November 1, 1867, the capital was moved to Tucson by the act of the 4th Arizona Territorial Legislature. The capital returned to Prescott in 1877 by the 9th Arizona Territorial Legislature. The capital was finally moved to Phoenix on February 4, 1889, by the 15th Arizona Territorial Legislature.
Richard Cunningham McCormick was appointed Territorial Governor by President Andrew Johnson on July 9, 1866. He served as such until March 4, 1869. Both governors had at one time or another resided in the Governor's Mansion which is now one of the historic structures exhibited on the grounds of the Sharlot Hall Museum.Goff pp. 26–27
By 1878, Prescott had a street known as "Whiskey Row" which was known for the establishment of many saloons, gambling parlors, opium dens and houses of prostitution. Two fires affected most of the structures on the street, but none came close to causing the damage which was done in the fire of July 14, 1900. The fire known as "The Great Fire" destroyed five city blocks including most of Whiskey Row. Twelve hotels and 20 mercantile establishments were lost.
After the fire, citizens soon viewed the event as a chance to replace the old wooden buildings common in the downtown area with more permanent concrete, brick and stone buildings. By 1901, the buildings in the district had been rebuilt. The original buildings which still are standing are the Hotel Palace, the D. Levy Mercantile Building and the St. Michael Hotel. Whiskey Row continued to be the center of activity for the town, known for its gambling as well as its saloons.
In 1888, William "Buckey" O'Neill, who was serving as Yavapai County judge, was elected county sheriff, running on the Republican ticket. After his term was up, O'Neill was elected unanimously Mayor of Prescott. In 1898, war broke out between the United States and Spain. O'Neill joined the Rough Riders and became Captain of Troop A. On July 1, 1898, the Rough Riders and the 10th Cavalry were stationed below Kettle Hill. The Spaniards, who were on top of the hill, poured machine gun and Mauser fire down on the Americans. Buckey O'Neill was killed in action.
By 1895, the Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railroad (also known as the “Peavine”) connected Prescott's mining area with the Southern Pacific line. The access to the railroad bolstered the mercantile sector of the local economy and led to the establishment of several new dry goods and mining supply businesses. Communication and utilities improved along with transportation. An electric light plant was built in 1889 and telephones arrived shortly thereafter. The year 1889 also marked the year that the capital was moved to Phoenix. In spite of this political loss, Prescott continued to prosper and develop as the 19th century drew to a close.
The copper-mining industry also supported area growth in the early 20th century because of the extra demands for World War I. However, by 1919 Prescott suffered the effects of postwar depression along with the rest of the state and nation.
Prescott Historical Society Some of the structures in Prescott are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The fact that a property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places or that it may be eligible to be listed as such, does not mean that the property is safe from being demolished by its owner or from being removed from the NRHP listings. An example is the Goldwater Mercantile Building which was listed in 1978, reference #78003584 and removed from the list on October 2, 1992, because the historic structure was demolished in November 1978. According to Jim McPherson, Arizona Preservation Foundation Board President:
According to The Prescott Historical Society web-page, the society was established as a state agency in 1964 to operate the Sharlot Hall museum and territorial gubernatorial mansion. The Society and its Board of Trustees also maintains historical collections and makes the collections, materials and data available to the public. The Society is supported by state and private funds. The Society is authorized to purchase, receive, hold, lease and sell property for the benefit of the state and the use of the Society.Prescott Historical Society
Chapter 3-11 of the City Code created an official listing of historic buildings and structures located within the city to known as "The City of Prescott Register of Historic Places". The purpose is to establish an official list of buildings and structures to which the provisions of the Prescott Historic Building Code, as adopted in Title III, Chapter 8, of the City Code may be applied. The City of Prescott Register of Historic Places includes all buildings and structures which are presently listed or that may be in the future listed on the following:Chapter 3-11: City of Prescott Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places. The State of Arizona Register of Historic Places. The Territorial Architecture of Prescott, 1978 edition, compiled and edited by Billy Garrett and published by the Yavapai Heritage Foundation. A Prescott Preservation District.
Any buildings and structures located within the City limits of Prescott, Arizona, and not otherwise listed under Section 3-11-3 may be included on the official list upon a showing that such buildings and structures have:
Historical or cultural importance, and/or Distinctive architectural style, engineering, or workmanship, and/or Visual and aesthetic value as part of the scene, neighborhood, or district.
In the Prescott area there are some ruins associated with the Sinagua tribe which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on January 20, 1989, reference #88003185. Listed as Indian Peak Ruin (AR-03-09-06-116). The ruins are not pictured in this article because access to the area is restricted.Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Western United States
Historic properties
Historic Districts
The following twelve districts are considered historical by the National Register of Historic Places:National Register of Historic Places Courthouse Plaza Historic District – Location: Roughly bounded by Gurley, Montezuma, Cortez, and Goodwin Sts. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on December 14, 1978, reference #78003583 East Prescott Historic District – Location: Roughly bounded by Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railroad tracks, N. Mt. Vernon St., Carleton St., and N. Alarcon St. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on October 2, 1989, reference #89000165 Fleury's Addition Historic District – Location: Roughly Western and Gurley from Willow to Grove, and Willow, Garden, and Grove from Western to Gurley St. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on December 27, 1994, reference #94001488 Hassayampa Historic District – Location: 1089–1112 Old Hassayampa Ln. and 1106 Country Club Dr. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on May 30, 2003, reference #03000469 Joslin and Whipple Historic District – Location: S. Mt. Vernon, Virginia, Washington, and Arizona Sts. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on December 7, 2000, reference #00001387 Mile High Park Historic District – Location: Roughly along Oregon Ave. and Josephine St. from Gail Gardner Way and Lindberg Dr. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on September 3, 1999, reference #99001069 North Prescott Townsite Historic District – Location: Between Gurley, Sheldon, Alarcon and Summit Sts. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on May 13, 2009, reference #08001188