Wild Wild West Tour of Jerome
Description
Our accredited tour guide will take you on a journey into the past as you unveil Jerome’s salacious wild west. Covering topics such as the rise and fall of the worlds largest copper mining town which produced over a billion dollars in precious metals, to famous figures such as Billy the Kid and Wyatt Earp, the infamous murder of Brothel owner Belgian Jennie and the reign of the Cuban Queen. We are recognized and supported by the Jerome Historical Society for our excellence and accurate information obtained from the JHS archives and one on one sessions with the archives manager. All tour guides are Jerome residents and active members of the JHS.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Located right next to Jerome State Historic Park is the Audrey Shaft Headframe Park, which is open daily from 8 am – 5 pm. The Headframe Park is managed by the Jerome Historical Society. At the Headframe park visitors can stand on glass above a 1,900 foot shaft. The shaft is 650 taller than the highest point of the Empire State Building! It is the largest wooden headframe still standing in Arizona; it was completed in 1918.
Jerome State Historic Park is a state park of Arizona, US, featuring the Douglas Mansion, built in 1916 by a family of influential mining entrepreneurs in Jerome, Arizona, a mining region in the northeast of the Black Hills, east Yavapai County. A museum is located in the old Douglas Mansion.
The mine was established in 1882. Owned by Territorial Governor Frederick Tritle, financing was obtained to begin large scale mining from New York investors such as Eugene Jerome for whom the town was named after. The massive ore found here was mined for over 70 years producing over a billion dollars in copper, gold, silver, zinc and iron. This was the worlds largest copper producer during World War 1.
During the 1930's much of Jerome was in a landslide due to fault lines, massive explosions from the United Verde Copper Company and water erosion. During this time parts of Jerome slid 1 1/2 feet every month. The sliding jail slid approximately 225 ft from its original foundation.
The Museum and Gift Shop were opened in the early 1950s. With displays depicting the timeline of Jerome’s past to its present, items such as old miners equipment to remains of gambling in saloons can be seen within the Museum.
On tour we will pass by many of Jerome's fine wineries.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(135)
Learning about the rise and fall of what was once the largest copper mining town in Arizona was both fascinating and eye-opening. Courtney was engaging, knowledgeable, and an outstanding storyteller who brought Jerome’s colorful past to life. She kept us captivated throughout the tour. Her passion and pride for Jerome were evident in every story she shared, making the experience feel personal and authentic.
Courtney is a fantastic tour guide! She was knowledgeable and fun to chat with about the history of Jerome. I had an amazing time! I have started looking up books about Jerome to read more. Highly recommend this tour, especially if you like having an understanding of origins and legacy.
Ed was super knowledgeable and answered all of our questions! Would definitely recommend if you are visiting Jerome!
We learned so much of Jerome history for our tour guide Ed. We were very lucky to have him all to ourselves. We were going to try to do it on our own, but the last minute we booked the tour. We definitely made the right decision. Thanks Ed.
Courtney was a great a guide. Very knowledgeable and passionate about Jerome. Lots of history in this small town!
I bughly recommend this tour. It was clear that our guide didn't rely on a script. She had done her own research in the Jerome archives to present accurate information and multiple perspectives. She provided fascinating stories of the past and took us to extraordinary sights.
Courtney was a great tour guide - enthusiastic, knowledgeable and funny. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour and her energy
Informative. Guide was pleasant and knowledgeable.
The tour was outstanding. Wish I could remember the name of our tour guide she was spectacular. We got the extended tour and I felt like we got such a bonus. I would definitely recommend this to anyone traveling to the Sedona area!
Excellent history tour, knowledgeable guide, fascinating locations, definitely recommend.
