Arizona is a beautiful state that is teeming with history and culture. You likely know about the Grand Canyon, which happens to be the most recognizable canyon on the earth. But there is far more than that to view and explore.
Arizona historical sites range from historic gold mines to ancient cliff dwellings and remnants of old Native American culture. Today we’ll look at the best places to immerse yourself in the history of Arizona so you can enjoy the history of the area.
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London Bridge
Have you ever wanted to visit London Bridge? You may not know that the official bridge isn’t located in London at all. It’s located in western Arizona. That probably seems a bit strange, so let’s look at the facts.
Once World War II ended, the official London Bridge had a lot more traffic going over it. The bridge wasn’t able to support all that traffic and it had started to crumble. With London looking for a way to raise money, they offered to sell the bridge if someone could remove it.
Robert McCulloch, the founder of Lake Havasu City, who made it big in oil chose to buy the bridge for about $2,500,000 and then paid another $7,000,000 to have it taken down, shipped to the United States, and added to the long list of Arizona landmarks. The Guinness Book of World Records calls it the world’s largest antique and it’s well worth a visit.
Tombstone
As far as Arizona historical sites go, Tombstone is one most people have at least heard of. This town is nicknamed “the town too tough to die,” and gives people an idea of what the wild west was like many years ago.
The story goes that Ed Schieffelin went to Camp Huachuca with other soldiers but left the fort to prospect silver and gold. The people with him told him that instead of silver, he was going to find his tombstone. Because of that, Schieffelin named his first claim The Tombstone.
This is an example of one of the most historical places in Arizona where violence and recklessness used to be a way of life. President Chester A. Arthur nearly declared martial law in the town and considered sending in military troops to calm things down.
Hopi Walpi Village
You can find Hopi Walpi Village in northeastern Arizona. This example of Arizona historical sites is composed of more than 2,500 square miles and is home to both the Arizona Tewa and Hopi people.
The people of these tribes exist in villages based around three different mesas in the traditional Hopi pueblo style. The oldest village on First Mesa is Walpi, which was established in 1690 after the villages near mesa Koechaptevela was abandoned due to fear of the Spanish after the 1680 Pueblo Revolt.
First Mesa is lived on by the Tewa people while the Hopis occupy both the Second Mesa and the Third Mesa.
Grand Canyon Railway
Located in Williams, Arizona, Grand Canyon Railway is one of the most popular historical landmarks in Arizona and it also stands as one of the most exciting ways to travel the Grand Canyon. In the late 1800s, the railroad was built as a way to transport ore from the wild west into the Anita Mines, which were around 50 miles north of Williams.
The first passengers stepped foot on the train in 1901. Less than ten years later, the Fray Marcos Hotel and Williams Depot were designed and built for use by the Santa Fe Railway. Riding on this train really gives you a chance to take in Arizona’s famous landmarks in a way that is historical.
There are four choices of riding the train from coast to first class, dome class, and parlor class. The ride is two hours long and offers culture, history, and interpretation as you take the ride. To make it even more exciting, old west shootouts are often staged near the depot to enjoy.
Canyon De Chelly National Monument
When it comes to Arizona landmarks, you don’t want to miss out on the Canyon De Chelly National Monument. It happens to be North America’s longest-continuously inhabited landscapes. There are tons of cultural resources including rock imagery, distinct architecture, and interesting artifacts.
This area also has a living community of Navajo individuals who have a connection to the landscape and find it of spiritual and historical significance.
As far as Arizona historical sites go, this one is unique in that it’s the only National park unit that is entirely composed of Navajo Tribal Trust Land. The National Park Services works with the people of the Navajo nation to sustain the living community and maintain the park resources.
Jerome
While Jerome was once the fifth largest city in Arizona, it is now considered a ghost town. If you visit the website for the town of Jerome, you will see is marketed as “the largest ghost town in America.”
This city was built around copper and it’s believed that the mining started over 1,000 years ago through the Tuzigoot tribe. It wasn’t until 1892 that the demand for copper increased and so did the level of mining. At its peak, Jerome had over 15,000 residents wandering the streets.
Once the depression hit, those prosperous times fall away and by 1950 most of the mines had closed. However, the original town largely remains the same. Even the original hotel has reopened and offers the chance to enjoy the city while in the area of the Grand Canyon.
Fort Bowie Historic Site
Another of the Arizona historical sites that you should visit is Fort Bowie Historic Site. This fort commemorates a conflict between the United States military and the Chiricahua Apaches. This is a monument to the endurance and bravery of the troops who were looking to tame and settle on the western frontier.
Apache Pass and Fort Bowie were a major point of military operations for over 30 years, which eventually led to the 1886 surrender of Geronimo and the later banishment of the Chiricahuas to Alabama and Florida.
Fort Bowie was also the site of the battle of Apache Pass, the Bascom Affair, and a wagon train massacre. In the former battle, a large number of Apaches under Cochise and Mangus Colorados fought against the California Volunteers
Queen Mine
Those who are interested in the history of the Queen Mine can head to Bisbee, AZ to actually take a tour. Visitors can learn more about the history of the mine from experts. This mine is known as one of the greatest spots for copper in the world and was in production for nearly 100 consecutive years up until 1975.
Today, the Queen Mine Tour takes guests way down into the mine to explore the inner workings of the mine. This is a true step back into time and an excellent option for adding more fun to your Grand Canyon trip or Arizona vacation.
All in all, Arizona has a ton of history and there are dozens of exciting things to explore and view while you’re in the state. Whether you’re headed into the state to spend a few days at the Grand Canyon or you’re coming down for a road trip through the area, there are many historical landscapes to check out while you’re there. Make sure to add them to your to-do list!
