Thursday, April 12, 2012

ONCE THE CAPITAL OF THE ARIZONA TERRITORY

Tuesday, April 11 – We took a ride with Duane & Louise up to Prescott, AZ,  this morning.

sign

Prescott is up and over the Weaver Mountains and into the Granite Mountains at 5347 feet. It has a very, interesting historical background based mainly on the mining industry – especially gold! It was once the territorial capital of Arizona.

sign-prescot

Today it is a prosperous city of over 30,000 and relies heavily on tourism. Whiskey Row is the main tourist street. Located around the Court House, which is under renovation, Whiskey Row, in its heyday, was lined with saloons that welcomed many well-known cowboys and outlaws on a regular basis.

Courthouse.
courthouse

Now here is something we haven't seen in at least two years. We almost forgot what they look like.
dandilions

In 1900, the entire block – along with three-quarters of the town – was destroyed by fire. But within days, new structures were being built. Many of these buildings are still standing are are ideal places for unique shopping, dining and plenty of entertainment.

street

Whiskey Row.
whiskey-row

We stopped at The Palace for lunch. Opened in 1868, the Palace was a fancy “watering-hole” and is still the oldest frontier saloon in Arizona and one of the most well-known and historic restaurant and saloons in the United States. In the 1870's, Wyatt Earp, Virgil Earp, and Doc Holiday were patrons of The Palace.

palace-bar

marsha-inside-palace

Louise, Duane, Marsha and Paul.
duane-lousie-and-us

paul-in-back

After a leisure walk around downtown and a stroll through several of the shops, we jumped back in the car to enjoy the scenery on the ride back down the mountain.

Just a gorgeous drive.
mts.

road

drive-to-prescott

Yes, that is snow in them there mountains.
snow-in-mt.

It was a beautiful ride and a fun day with friends.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!