A Visit to Jerome, Arizona

April 2, 2015

Jerome

Up early and off to Jerome by 9:30 and finally found space to park. It doesn’t really start to get super busy till around 10:30 – 11:00, so if you want to visit … my tip is to go early! The only glitch was that there wasn’t a lot open yet, but we managed to walk around town taking photos and spent a good hour doing that. By then things were starting to open so we had coffee and looked through their little shops.

Jerome

Jerome has an interesting history. It began in 1876 when 3 prospectors staked claims on rich copper deposits. They sold out to a group which formed the United Verde Copper Company in 1883. By the early 20^th century, the United Verde was the largest producing copper mine in the Arizona Territory and Jerome boasted a population of nearly 15,000!

By 1953, loss of profits brought the operation and Jerome’s mining days to an end. Now the town is home to only around 150 people – but a very neat place with lots of original buildings still standing. Or mostly standing … a lot of them are actively sliding slowly down the mountain!

Steep, winding, narrow roads leading up to Jerome!

Many of the buildings are right up to the street side, some actually overhanging the street!

The Jerome Grand Hotel

Exploring Jerome

Some facades some historical buildings have been preserved

Jerome

We visited the Jerome State Historic Park. This museum was once the stately mansion of mining mogul James Douglas, who was actually born in Canada eh! The house is a museum devoted to the Douglas family history and history of Jerome and well worth a visit!