by Jim Christopher

Just as all of the right conditions converged to create "The Perfect Storm" in the bestselling book and motion picture, a similar occurrence came about in Prescott in 1931. Grace Sparkes, the dynamic director of the Yavapai County Chamber of Commerce at that time, was interested in promoting tourism in Prescott to compensate for the slow economy of the Great Depression.

By Al Bates

Al Bates, local historian, has written articles for Days Past (1999 and 2000) about the history of Fort Whipple. The following is the first of a two-part condensed and edited rendering of those articles by Kathy Krause.

Fort Whipple was a U.S. Army post located originally in Val de Chino (Chino Valley) in December of 1863, moving in late May of 1864 to the banks of Granite Creek, on the site of the current Bob Stump Veterans' Administation (VA) Medical Center. The fort was moved in order to be nearer needed timber and the miner encampments a few miles south and west of the fort.

By Parker Anderson

The first legal hanging in Prescott’s history of Manuel Abiles is not remembered as an extraordinary event.  The people involved are not colorful and legendary, though it has been written about a number of times.  (Note: There are three spellings in various documents and accounts of the first Prescott hanging pertaining to his last name.  The oldest documents at the time of the hanging spell his last name Abiles.  Later written accounts use Aviles.  There is even one newspaper article that spells his name Abelis.  To maintain consistency, we will use the name as given in the oldest documents.)

By Kathy Krause

The thirty-six foot replica of the USS Arizona battleship, fondly called ZOE by the builders Cecil and Pat Gates, was put into dry dock at the end of 1991 after seven years, 6,700 water miles and 8,000 road miles.  Her mission had been to teach the history of our proud Navy, and especially to teach children about the sacrifices that were made to give us the freedoms we enjoy.

By Kathy Krause

Many of you in Prescott, Arizona had a real treat in mid-September at the "Best Fest" statehood celebration marking the beginning of the statewide centennial activities when, among many other wonderful sights, you came across the thirty-six foot replica of the USS Arizona BB-39 parked at the intersection of Goodwin and Montezuma streets.  The beautifully restored replica had been “missing in action” from about 1995 until 2005.  Few seemed to know its whereabouts; most did not notice or care.

By James F. Vivian

The remarkable attraction is called the ‘Miner Statue,’ crafted during the spring and summer of 1916.  It is on permanent display today at the Capitol Museum in Phoenix.  The citizens’ group that sponsored the well-known sterling silver dining service for the USS Arizona intended the statue as a companion piece in commemoration of the launching of the ship on June 19, 1915.  The custom was, at that time, that a state for which a battleship was named. . . .

By Parker Anderson

One of the most enduring legends in Prescott, handed down through the years by generations of old-timers, is that the famous belly-dancer, or rather, exotic dancer “Little Egypt,” who appeared live at the Palace bar in 1910.  This story has been repeated often enough that few have ever questioned it.

By Vicky Kaye

The people of Prescott who know the history of Pauline Weaver may remember him for many things.  He was a scout and trapper considered to be the first Anglo-American to make his home in the Prescott area.  He was also the guide for the Peeple’s expedition that discovered gold at Rich Hill southeast of Yarnell.  Born in 1797, he traveled the West from the 1830s until his death at Camp Verde (then known as Fort Lincoln) on June 21, 1867.  There is a story that persists claiming when the

By Parker Anderson

A Halloween treat from Sharlot Hall Museum.

Although the following story did not occur at Halloween time, this weekend seems an appropriate time to relay it! In 1933, Phoenix businessman Albert Stetson purchased the old Goldwater Store on the corner of Cortez and Union streets, across from the east entrance of the courthouse.  He had major interior remodeling done and turned it into a movie theater to compete with the Elks Theatre two blocks away.

By Bob Cornett

A “moving saga” of our Arizona Territorial Capital began soon after Governor Goodwin and his party’s January 1864 arrival near Del Rio Springs in Chino Valley where they set up a temporary camp. It was determined that the location was unsuitable as a capital site. Without delay, Governor Goodwin spent months touring the territory to find a suitable site for the capital and ultimately chose the area that would be named ‘Prescott’ among miners and gold strikes. In May, the Governor moved to the banks of Granite Creek in Prescott and here was built the log structure which was home to the first two territorial governors…now the Governor’s Mansion at Sharlot Hall Museum.