Prescott, Arizona: How the West is Done!

Prescott, Arizona: How the West is Done

                                                            Photo by Franz Rosenberger

For at least a century, intrepid adventurers have sought the now mythical Lost Dutchman Gold Mine in the Superstition Mountains near Apache Junction, just east of Phoenix. In spite of the amount of time and energy dedicated to the task, this lost mine rich in gold has yet to be found.

It should come with some relief, then, that not all of Arizona’s treasures lie hidden or lost amid the rocks and cacti. Just 90 minutes north of Phoenix is Prescott, itself a veritable trove of history, art, outdoor activities and Western heritage and culture. Even better, visitors can leave their pick-axes and dynamite at home and may travel freely without worry of legendary guardians or enigmatic curses.

Prescott was so named for historian William Hickling Prescott in 1864, and declared as the Arizona Territory capital the same year. The community prospered as a largely mining and ranching town. Many of the old buildings such as the Yavapai County Courthouse, the Palace (Arizona’s oldest restaurant and saloon), the Elk’s Opera House and the first Territorial Governor’s Mansion have been preserved with great care. 

Beautifully restored Victorian homes with carefully manicured lawns line quiet, shaded streets, and are among the more than 800 buildings on the National Historic Register. Prescott’s rich past can be explored today along historic Whiskey Row. Once home to over 40 saloons, much of it has been transformed into a thriving shopping district.

Museums
The Phippen Museum (4701 North Highway 89) features an extensive permanent collection of Western art and throughout the year features a number of traveling exhibits and shows. The Phippen’s main annual event is the Phippen Museum Western Art Show & Sale, which takes place over Memorial Day weekend on Prescott’s tree-lined Courthouse Plaza. Over 200 of the country’s best Western artists display and sell their artwork in what has become one of the Prescott area’s biggest attractions. For more information, call 928-778-1385 or visit www.phippenartmuseum.org.

The Sharlot Hall Museum (415 West Gurley St.) is the crown jewel of history museums in Arizona. Named for historian, poet and journalist Sharlot Hall, the museum is built around the site of the first Territorial Governor’s Mansion, which acts as the center-point for seven other historic buildings. An extensive collection of artifacts dating beyond Arizona’s early territorial days brings the past to life for visitors. Lectures of a cultural and historical nature, as well as living history performances and presentations, are produced throughout the year. One of the museum's major annual events is the Prescott Indian Art Market in July. For more information, call 928-445-3122 or visit www.sharlot.org.

The Smoki Museum (147 N. Arizona Ave.) documents early Native American history of regional tribes through a variety of basketry, pottery, weavings and many other artifacts. The paintings of Kate Cory, who lived among the Hopi for seven years and did a great service to posterity in helping to document their myths, are one of the museum's more popular attractions. The Smoki also hosts informative lectures throughout the year. One of the Smoki’s biggest annual events is the Navajo Rug and Indian Art Auction in July. For more information, call 928-445-1230 or visit www.smokimuseum.org.

Fort Whipple Museum (500 North Highway 89), located on the grounds of the Bob Stump Veterans Affairs Medical Center, is housed in one of the 1909 military officer’s quarters. The museum traces the history of Fort Whipple with Living History programs (third Saturday of February, May, August and November) and exhibits that include medical instruments, Army weaponry, the Buffalo Soldiers, maps, photographs and memoirs written by those stationed there. Exhibits and events are coordinated and operated by Sharlot Hall Museum. For more information, call 928-445-3122 or visit www.sharlot.org.

Rodeo & Western Heritage
The first “contemporary” rodeo took place on July 4, 1888 in Prescott. A group of prominent local businessmen and merchants formed a committee to plan the event.  The members included Buckey O’Neill, later to become a captain in Roosevelt’s Rough Riders; George Ruffner, later a long-time pioneer sheriff of Yavapai County; and Morris Goldwater, uncle of former Senator Barry Goldwater and future mayor of Prescott for many years, and voted “Man of the Century” during Prescott’s Centennial celebration in 1964.  

The main cowboy events included bronco riding, steer roping and tying and cow pony racing.  Merchandise and cash were given as prizes.  A cowboy named Juan Levias walked off with rodeo’s first professional title and was documented in the subsequent edition of the Arizona Journal-Miner.

Today, the annual rodeo in Prescott is called The World’s Oldest Rodeo and celebrates 124 years this summer with eight performances from June 28-July 4. In addition, several additional events will be taking place: the Rodeo Dance gives visitors a chance to kick up some dust with fellow rodeo fans and rodeo contestants June 30-July 2. Stake out a spot on Prescott Courthouse Plaza the morning of July 2 to see the annual Prescott Frontier Days parade, the state’s second-largest parade (after the Fiesta Bowl). Peruse the wares offered by artists and artisans at the Prescott Rodeo Days Fine Arts & Crafts Show, July 2-4, on Prescott Courthouse Plaza. Tickets for the 124^th Annual World’s Oldest Rodeo are still on sale, and can be had by calling 866-407-6336 or going online to www.worldsoldestrodeo.com.

Two more decidedly Western events take place each year. Later this summer is the 6^th Annual Shootout on Whiskey Row, July 23 & 24. The Prescott Regulators & Their Shady Ladies proudly present this annual re-enactment competition, costume competition and vendor showcase. The Shootout will be held on Cortez Street in downtown Prescott. Learn more by visiting their website at www.prescottregulators.org.

The Prescott Western Heritage Foundation, Inc., in partnership with The Prescott Regulators & Their Shady Ladies, will host Prescott Western Heritage Days this September 16-18, an event that showcases Prescott and Yavapai County from 1864 until 1912. Prescott Western Heritage Days will host the largest gathering of re-enactors in Arizona at the state's Centennial kick-off celebration. Learn more at www.prescottwesternheritageday.org.

The Arts
The bustling art scene in Prescott prompted writer and former art critic for the Arizona Republic John Villani to include Prescott in the book “The 100 Best Art Towns in America: A Guide to Galleries, Museums, Festivals, Lodging and Dining,” (The Countryman Press, 4th ed., 2005). Prescott boasts a wide variety of venues featuring the visual arts, with some galleries such as the Mountain Artists Guild & Gallery (228 N. Alarcon St.) offering classes and workshops.

In addition to private galleries, Prescott College maintains a student gallery at the Sam Hill Warehouse at 232 N. Granite Street, and Yavapai Community College has a gallery as well as a sculpture garden at their campus at 1100 E. Sheldon Street. For more information about art galleries throughout Prescott, go to www.visit-prescott.com.

Eighteen area galleries participate in the monthly Fourth Friday Art Walk which, as the name suggests, take place on the fourth Friday of the month. These galleries extend their hours for an open-house atmosphere including live music, food and beverages. You can pick up maps at participating galleries, the Prescott Chamber of Commerce or online at http://artthe4th.com.   

The performing arts are also a vibrant force in the community, as the Prescott Fine Arts Association (208 N. Marina St.), Sharlot Hall Museum’s Blue Rose Theater (415 W. Gurley St.), the historic Elks Opera House (117 E. Gurley St.), the Yavapai College Performance Hall (1100 E. Sheldon St.) and Tim’s Toyota Center in neighboring Prescott Valley (3201 N. Main St.) present a variety of dramatic, musical and comedic stage performances and concerts throughout the year.

Speaking of concerts, the City of Prescott is again hosting and producing the Downtown Summer Concert Series, running June 1 through September 8. Prescott's picturesque Courthouse Plaza hosts free, live entertainment five nights a week, from karaoke singing to dance lessons to band performances. Prescott's Downtown Summer Concert Series aims to offer something for everyone in its expanded evening programs. The events will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, Tuesday through Saturday, on Courthouse Plaza's north lawn on Gurley Street, and will include 65 evenings of free entertainment.

Upcoming signature arts and musical events in Prescott include Tsunami on the Square on June 18, the 30^th Annual Bluegrass Festival June 25 & 26, the Prescott Indian Art Market at Sharlot Hall Museum on July 9 & 10, Summer Rug & Indian Art Auction at the Smoki Museum July 22 & 23, the Mountain Artists Guild & Gallery Summer Arts & Crafts Show August 13 & 14, Clint Black in concert at Tim’s Toyota Center on July 14, the 11^th Annual Prescott Jazz Summit August 26-28, and the Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering September 15-17.

Outdoor Adventure
One might think that Arizona is an arid moonscape dotted with cacti and other prickly plant life, but Prescott is a mile above sea level and enjoys four mild seasons and blooming flora. The City of Prescott boasts 16 parks and three lakes; with kayak, canoe and bicycle rental at Watson, Goldwater and Willow Lakes via Prescott Outdoors (www.prescottoutdoors.com).

If you’re in the mood for an outdoor odyssey of trail trekking around Prescott, we've got you covered. The Prescott area offers more than 450 miles of groomed trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. The Mile-High Trail System contains approximately 28 miles of trails, including Rails-to-Trails projects along the former Santa Fe Railroad, the Prescott Circle Trail System, and the Greenways Trails System. The Prescott Circle Trail is a network of trails that continues to expand, and which will eventually encircle all of Prescott. The Greenways Trails are urban trails along Granite and Miller Creeks that run through downtown Prescott.

It just wouldn't be a true Old West adventure if you didn't sit astride a worthy steed among the scent of sage and mesquite. So whether you're a seasoned rider and wish to haul your horses to Prescott, or are a beginner, looking to rent some horses and receive basic instruction, Prescott can pleasantly accommodate your riding needs. Popular riding locations include the Williamson Valley Trailhead, Thumb Butte, Spruce Mountain and Granite Basin.

With over 360 species of birds confirmed in the Prescott area, your binoculars will be performing overtime. Popular sighting locations include Lynx Lake, Goldwater Lake, Granite Basin Lake, Thumb Butte Picnic Area, Granite Creek Park, the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve (just south of Watson Lake), and the Watson-Willow Lake Ecosystem Important Bird Area (IBA). In addition to Watson and Willow Lakes and their surrounding uplands, a two-mile stretch of Granite Creek immediately south of Watson Lake that encompasses the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve, is part of the IBA.

To learn more about events, activities, attractions, special offers and lodging and dining in Prescott, call 800-266-7534 or go online to www.visit-prescott.com. Contact John Gorden, Prescott Commerical and Residential Realtor at 928.308.0101 or john@jgorden.com