Prescott, Arizona - 05/05/16

Thursday – May 5, 2016
Prescott, Arizona

We spent a delightful day touring Prescott. Since we arrived on Tuesday, 5/03/16, the weather has been delightful. We have enjoyed sunny days with temperatures in the middle seventies.

Prescott, Arizona was founded in 1864. The city was named after historian, William Hickling Prescott. The city is the county seat of Yavapai County. The Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe reservation is located adjacent to and partially within the borders of Prescott. According to the 2010 United States Census Bureau, the population of the city is 39,843.

In 1864 Prescott was designated as the capital of the Arizona Territory. The Territorial Capital was moved to Tucson in 1867. Prescott again became the Territorial Capital in 1877, until Phoenix became the capital in 1889.

Prescott, together with other towns within Yavapai County, comprises a population of 211,073 as of the 2010 United States Census Bureau. This is the third largest metropolitan area in Arizona, after Phoenix (4.2 million) and Tucson (1 million).

Prescott has a large, beautiful town square, showcasing a historic courthouse in the middle of the square. A variety of shops, bars and restaurants reside within the Town Square. One of the streets on the square, Montezuma Street, has long been known as "Whisky Row" for the numerous saloons which one lined the street. On July 14, 1900, a disastrous fire started by a miner’s candle destroyed the four blocks around the square. Within a few days of the fire, new construction was underway in brick and masonry. Most of the buildings on Montezuma Street were rebuilt between the fall of 1900 and 1905, in the styles typical of early 20^th century buildings.

Prescott’s cooler climate, at an elevation of 5,368 feet, is a popular destination for visitors from Phoenix, Tucson and other southern areas of Arizona during the summer months. They come to Prescott to escape the triple digit temperatures from their region during the summer months.

Prescott is a tourist friendly destination. There are lots of things to do: Hiking, Biking, Walking Tours, Shopping and Dining. There are weekly and ongoing events. Every weekend, cultural events are scheduled within the Courthouse Plaza. While we were there, the 30^th Annual Prescott Fine Arts & Wine Festival was taking place.

Tomorrow another adventure begins.