Back in Time - Day 1, Site 1

We decided to get out of the heat for a day or two so

we headed to the Cottonwood AZ area which has an elevation of

3314'.  The map below shows the sites we planned to visit

on the 2-day, (4-site) adventure.

After heading north on I-17 we turned onto Highway 260

which would take us to Jerome.  This is about a 2 & 1/2 hr drive

from Gold Canyon.  (It took about 55 minutes just to get out

of the Phoenix area!!)

Having received National Historic Landmark status in 1976, Jerome, Arizona 
offers the visitor a peak into the past, a glimpse into the grandeur 
of what was once not only a Billion Dollar Copper Camp, but also
 the ‘Wickedest Town in the West’ with many original structures
 still precariously looming over the Verde Valley of North-Central Arizona.

Jerome was the largest producer of copper, gold, and silver in Arizona

simultaneously in the 1920s before the mines closed in 1953 

and it became the largest ghost town in the west.

We've been here before about 17 years ago and remembered 

that the road was quite windy and it was to our advantage

to hug the rock wall...

Our on-board navigation system will show you what I mean.

We took the first open parking spot we could find and decided

to walk the rest of the town.  (Remember you can click on

any photo to enlarge it.)

That turned out to be a good idea.  The place was packed and

the local shop keepers told us why... it had snowed for the

past 3 days.

As we strolled the streets it was sometimes challenging to

make sure you had your camera level.

 

Jerome is an artist community for sure aa were the store signs.    This was 

my favorite sign,

although this Volkswagen van came in close second!!! 

This humorous metal dog posed atop the "doggie bag" holder

reminding people to pick up after their dogs.  Yippee...

My favorite gallery from our last visit, the Pura Vida Gallery

on School Street, had this humorous Easter decoration

out front.  I had purchased some beautiful fused glass earrings

last time... this time I purchased a beautiful silk painted shawl

to wear to our granddaughter's wedding in Oct.  You'll have

to wait to see it until then!!!

This award winning gallery is honored to offer American handcrafts from over 

120 artists working in organic forms and exciting colors in ceramics, 

jewelry, art to wear, garden art, and blown glass that all convey the true 

essence of the artist that created each one-of-a-kind piece.

Recently ranked one of the top twenty American hand-craft galleries 

in the US by American Style Magazine,   Put it on your "bucket list"!!!

Located on a high ridge in the Verde Valley, this reportedly haunted 

1926 Spanish Mission-style hotel is set in a former hospital.

The 30,000 square foot building is well noted to be the highest commercial building 

in the Verde Valley,  being at a height of 5240 feet above sea level.

 The hotel was built as a Mission Revival Style of architecture and was 

the last major building to be constructed in Jerome. 

The building was considered by many a masterpiece of architecture because, 

not only was it constructed of poured-in-place concrete, but also at a

50 degree slope on solid bedrock, up against the slopes of Mingus Mountain.

 

Don searched for and finally found the geocache he was looking

for in Jerome.  He spent a long time do so and finally a friendly

fireman came across the street and gave him a couple of

extra tips.  You can see how small it was... smaller

than the nail on my index finger.

This is where it was hidden, with the clue... only a step away.

We followed the arrow to the left to get to

the Gold King Mine and Ghost town which will be featured in the next

blog: Back in Time Day 1 Site 2.