Articles for Download

During these unprecedented times, it’s often helpful to find a momentary diversion — perhaps a “blast-from-the-past”! As a part of our #MuseumFromHome blog posts, Sharlot Hall Museum offers this sampling of published articles created by staff and volunteers for a wide range of published media. But more, these offer tidbits of knowledge plus interesting, accompanying art. Allow these literary morsels an opportunity to provide contrast to the nebulous space of uncertainty surrounding our current COVID-19 pandemic. Look for more website content as we collectively navigate through the evolving challenges that will no doubt become a continuing chapter in the history books.

Spanish Flu of 1918

A century ago (in 1918), the “Spanish Flu” struck an unsuspecting Northern Arizona. Click the title to read this Days Past article, that includes exerpts of a 2004 news-feature.

Miss Sharlot Hall

The story of this young girl who became fascinated with Arizona history, became an accomplished woman of her time (1870-1943), and created a museum to preserve early pioneer history of Arizona.

Lt. Ernest Love

A local Prescott aviator who went off to the “Great War” and never returned… a fallen hero who had flown 21 combat missions with the 147th Aero Squadron. The Prescott airport is named the Ernest A. Love Airfield in his honor.

They Called Him ‘Rowdy’

Yavapai Indian Rowdy was a native scout with the U.S. Cavalry during the Arizona Indian Wars. His valor and skills were rewarded by his receiving the Medal of Honor in 1890. Discover his story.

Pauline Weaver

He was often referred to as the “first citizen of Prescott” — an early frontiersman who knew the country and the Indians well, and who helped to settle the Prescott area in the mid-1860s.

A Floating Wheelbarrow

Explorer Joseph Ives sought a water route to the West, and explored the Colorado River on a “floating wheelbarrow” in 1857. His adventure introduced the world to a “valueless” cañon we know today as the Grand Canyon.

Prescott’s First School

Built in 1868, the one-room schoolhouse was the first in Northern Arizona. Discover the history of education in the rugged frontier of Territorial Arizona.

Building a Mansion in the Wilderness

On a grassy knoll just west of the downtown plaza, the first Territorial Governor commissioned a residence and office in Arizona in April 1864. It’s now the centerpiece of Sharlot Hall Museum.

Prescott’s Winemaking Heritage… more than just Whiskey on the row

There was other beverages besides whiskey, hootch and beer in Territorial Arizona. Prescott included wine — claret and other French wines, as well as German-style riesling — and such distilled spirits as port, sherry and brandy.

Creating a Wilderness Capital…

Prescott was the first Territorial capital of Arizona, and was formed by events surrounding 1863… the Civil War and the Union’s need for Gold, which was found in the area. Within months, it became the second largest community in the Territory and home of the governor and legislature.

Willard Page Created a Niche Art Form

In the early 1900s, a vagabond artist became the master craftsman of an assembly-line style of quickly produced souvenir paintings that depicted the Southwest — a perfect fit for a tourist’s suitcase.

Tom Mix Movies

In the early 1900s, a vagabond artist became the master craftsman of an assembly-line style of quickly produced souvenir paintings that depicted the Southwest — a perfect fit for a tourist’s suitcase.

Indian Scouts

In the early 1900s, a vagabond artist became the master craftsman of an assembly-line style of quickly produced souvenir paintings that depicted the Southwest — a perfect fit for a tourist’s suitcase.

Hometown Hero

In the early 1900s, a vagabond artist became the master craftsman of an assembly-line style of quickly produced souvenir paintings that depicted the Southwest — a perfect fit for a tourist’s suitcase.