Prescott history

The history of Prescott officially began in 1864. The city was founded with a specific purpose — to become the first capital of the newly formed Arizona Territory. The settlement was named in honour of the renowned American historian William Hickling Prescott, whose works were popular among the educated pioneers.

Key Factors of Establishment

• Gold Rush: The decisive factor for settling the region was the discovery of gold along Granite Creek by Joseph Walker's expedition in 1863. This attracted prospectors and traders.
• Political Will: Governor John Goodwin selected this location for the capital to consolidate administrative control in the centre of the territory, away from the southern regions.
• Natural Resources: Its location in the Bradshaw Mountains provided the city with essential resources: construction timber (Ponderosa pine) and water, while the temperate climate made life here more comfortable than in the hot desert.

Early Culture and Economy

In the first decades, Prescott's economy relied on the mining industry; however, cattle ranching and logging soon began to play an important role. The city rapidly developed as a trading hub.

The architectural appearance of early Prescott differed from typical Wild West towns. Thanks to settlers from the East Coast and the Midwest, houses in the Victorian style, built of red brick and wood, predominated here, giving the city the look of a New England settlement. The centre of social life became the famous street Whiskey Row, where trade and entertainment for miners and cowboys flourished.

Major Milestones in Prescott's History

• 1863 — An expedition led by Joseph Walker discovers gold in the Granite Creek area, attracting the first prospectors to the region.
• 1864 — Official founding of the city and its proclamation as the first capital of the newly formed Arizona Territory.
• 1867 — The territorial capital is moved from Prescott to Tucson, temporarily slowing the city's political development.
• 1877 — Prescott regains the status of Arizona's capital, which it retains for the next twelve years.
• 1886 — The first railway arrives in the city, significantly simplifying the transport of ore and goods.
• 1888 — The hosting of the first organised "cowboy tournament", which marked the beginning of the World’s Oldest Rodeo.
• 1889 — The capital of Arizona is permanently moved to the city of Phoenix.
• 1900 — A devastating fire ("The Great Fire") destroys a large part of the wooden city centre and the famous Whiskey Row quarter.
• 1900–1905 — A period of massive reconstruction, during which the city centre is rebuilt in brick and stone in the Victorian style.
• 1928 — Opening of the Sharlot Hall Museum, created to preserve the historical heritage and artefacts of the early settlers.
• 1989 — The historic city centre receives the status of a U.S. National Historic Landmark.
• 2013 — The city suffers a tragedy involving the loss of 19 firefighters from the local elite "Granite Mountain Hotshots" unit while battling a wildfire.

Stages of Development and Transformation of Prescott

Prescott has come a long way from a prospectors' tent camp to a modern cultural and educational centre. Below are the key moments that defined the unique appearance and economy of the city:

• Urban Foundation (1864): Unlike many spontaneous settlements of the Wild West, Prescott was designed as a capital from the start. A clear street layout around the central square (Courthouse Plaza) laid the foundation for the urban structure, which makes the city centre convenient and recognisable to this day.
• Railway Breakthrough (1886): Connection to the railway network (Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway) became a powerful economic driver. This event brought the city out of isolation, allowing for the scaled export of minerals and livestock, as well as ensuring the delivery of building materials from the East Coast.
• "Brick Revolution" (after 1900): Rebuilding the city after the Great Fire became a point of architectural transformation. The transition from wooden structures to substantial buildings of red brick and stone formed Prescott's famous Victorian style, which attracts thousands of tourists today.
• Cultural Branding (from 1888): Hosting the first organised cowboy tournament did not just entertain residents but also cemented the city's status as a guardian of Western traditions. Over time, the "World's Oldest Rodeo" became the main tourism event of the year and the foundation of the region's cultural identity.
• Heritage Preservation (20th Century): The creation of the Sharlot Hall Museum and the subsequent recognition of the city centre as a National Historic Landmark reoriented the economy from resource extraction to cultural tourism. The city began to capitalise on its rich history.
• Educational Vector (1978): The opening of the western campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University diversified the city's development. This attracted young people, created new jobs in the high-tech sector, and lowered the average age of the population.

Architectural Appearance and Urban Planning

Unlike the majority of Arizona cities, where Spanish colonial influence and adobe structures predominate, Prescott historically developed as an "island of the Midwest" in the desert. Its architectural code was shaped by settlers from the U.S. East Coast, who brought with them traditions of Victorian architecture and Anglo-Saxon planning principles.

Urban Structure

The foundation of the city plan was the classic American grid system, oriented to the cardinal points. The centre of the composition is Courthouse Plaza — a green square around which administrative and commercial life is concentrated. This urban planning technique, typical for New England towns, creates a cosy pedestrian environment and a clear hierarchy of streets.

Architectural Styles and Eras

The appearance of Prescott can be divided into several key periods, each of which left its mark on the urban environment:

• Territorial Style (1864–1900): The early period was characterised by wooden frame structures. However, after the devastating fire of 1900, city authorities introduced strict requirements for the use of non-combustible materials, which ended the era of the wooden centre.
• Victorian Style and Brick Eclecticism (1900–1915): The "Golden Age" of Prescott's architecture. Restored after the fire, the centre is built up with buildings of red brick and local stone.
  • Characteristic features: decorative brickwork, arched windows, metal cornices, and parapets.
  • Residential development: in historic districts, many mansions in the Queen Anne style with turrets, verandas, and intricate decor have been preserved.
• Neoclassicism (1910–1930): The period of strengthening the city's status was reflected in monumental public buildings. Architects sought to give the city solidity and grandeur by turning to antique forms.
• Spanish Revival and Art Deco (1920–1930): During this period, buildings reflecting popular pan-American trends appear, adding variety to the predominantly Victorian ensemble.

Iconic Buildings That Shaped the City

Key architectural landmarks of Prescott are not just monuments but functioning centres of city life:

• Yavapai County Courthouse (1916): A brilliant example of Neoclassicism. A monumental granite building with columns and pediments dominates the central square, symbolising law and order.
• Whiskey Row: An ensemble of commercial development from the early 20th century. The buildings here are executed in a restrained Victorian commercial architecture style, creating a cohesive street frontage.
• Hassayampa Inn (1927): An example of the Spanish Colonial Revival style with elements of the Italian Renaissance. The building stands out with painted ceilings, an elegant tower, and a rich interior, contrasting with the stricter brick development of the centre.
• Elks Theatre (1905): The opera house building combines elements of commercial style with details characteristic of the transition period from Victorianism to more modern forms of the turn of the century.

Outstanding Figures of Prescott

The history of the city is rich in colourful characters — from Wild West legends and politicians of national scale to cultural figures who shaped the spirit of Arizona. Here are the names inextricably linked with Prescott's past and present:

• William Hickling Prescott: A prominent 19th-century American historian, author of fundamental works on the conquest of Mexico and Peru. Paradoxically, he never visited Arizona. The city was named in his honour because his books were extremely popular among the educated elite of the early settlers, who wished to emphasise the cultural status of the new capital.
• Sharlot Hall: A poetess, historian, and the first woman to hold an official government post in Arizona (Territorial Historian). She dedicated her life to collecting and preserving the artefacts of the early settlers. It is thanks to her efforts that the famous open-air museum complex, which today bears her name, was created.
• William "Bucky" O'Neill: One of the most colourful figures in the city's history. He was the mayor of Prescott, a sheriff, a journalist, and a gambler. O'Neill died a hero during the Spanish-American War, fighting in the ranks of Theodore Roosevelt's "Rough Riders". His famous equestrian statue adorns the city's central square.
• Virgil Earp: The older brother of the legendary Wyatt Earp and an experienced lawman. Before becoming a participant in the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Virgil lived in Prescott and served here as a constable, maintaining order on the boisterous Whiskey Row.
• Fiorello La Guardia: The famous Mayor of New York (1934–1945), nicknamed the "Little Flower". He spent his childhood and teenage years in Prescott, where his father served as a bandmaster at Fort Whipple. La Guardia often noted that it was life in Arizona that shaped his character and democratic views.
• Barry Goldwater: U.S. Senator and Republican presidential candidate. Although he was a native of Phoenix, Goldwater held a special love for Prescott. It was here, on the steps of the historic Yavapai County Courthouse, that he officially announced the start of his presidential campaign in 1964, which became a significant event in U.S. political history.