Jerome, AZ

Jerome, Arizona was built on Cleopatra Hill above a vast deposit of copper. The mines, the workers, and those who sought its wealth formed Jerome's history. They were a brave and raucous mix. Miners, smelter workers, freighters, gamblers, bootleggers, saloon keepers, storekeepers, prostitutes and preachers, wives and children all made Jerome what it was.

Americans, Mexicans, Croatians, Irish, Spaniards, Italians and Chinese made the mining camp a cosmopolitan mix that added to its rich life and filled its street’s with excitement. Prehistoric Native Americans were the first miners. The Spanish followed, seeking gold but finding copper. Anglos staked the first claims in the area in 1876, and United Verde mining operations began in l883, followed by the Little Daisy claim.

Jerome grew rapidly from tent city to prosperous company town as it followed the swing of the mines' fortunes. Jerome was the talk of the territory...boom town of its time...darling of promoters and investors. The mines were nourished and exploited by financiers who brought billions of dollars of copper from its depths.

Changing times in the Territory saw pack burros, mule drawn freight wagons, and horses replaced by steam engines, autos and trucks. Fires ravaged the clapboard town again and again. Jerome was always rebuilt. In 1918 underground mining phased out after uncontrollable fires erupted in the 88 miles of tunnels under the town. Open pit mining brought dynamiting. The hills rattled and buildings cracked... the surface began to shift and sections of the business district slid downward. The sliding jail moved 225 ft. and rests across the road from its original site.

Dependent on the ups and downs of copper prices, labor unrest, depressions and wars, Jerome's mines finally closed in 1953. Forever? Jerome never knows. Jerome has always been a survivor. After the mines closed and "King Copper" left town, the population went from a peak of 15,000 in the 1920s to some 50 persons in the late 1950s. A few hardy souls remained, reluctant to leave a lifetime of memories.

The 1960s and 1970s were the time of the counter culture and Jerome offered a haven for artists who renovated homes and opened abandoned shops to sell their wares. Soon newcomers and Jerome old timers were working together to bring Jerome back to life. The Jerome Historical Society guarded the buildings against vandalism and the elements. The Douglas Mansion became a State Park in 1965 and Jerome became a National Historic Landmark in l976.

Today Jerome is very much alive with writers, artists, artisans, musicians, historians, and families. They form a peaceful, colorful, thriving community built on a rich foundation of history and lore.


HOTELS & THINGS TO DO IN JEROME

Sedona & Red Rock State Park Self-Guided Driving Tour

Tap into the energy of the Earth in beautiful Sedona! Locals call this a cathedral without walls, and it only takes one look to understand why. Surrounded by towering buttes and spires of bold red rock and bisected by a canyon that’s green all year-’round, Sedona is like nowhere else on th
Tap into the energy of the Earth in beautiful Sedona! Locals call this a cathedral without walls, and it only takes one look to understand why. Surrounded by towering buttes and spires of bold red rock and bisected by a canyon that’s green all year-’round, Sedona is like nowhere else on the planet. Explore Sedona at your own pace with over 53 stories laid out on a 15-mile route.
  • Fully Guided Personal Tours
  • Professionally Narrated Stories
  • Tour Valid Forever
  • Works Offline
  • Fun Facts
  • Tour At Your Own Pace
  • Location Aware, Plays Automatically
  • Don’t Miss Any Sightseeing Points
  • No Groups. No Tips

  • Jerome Studio Apartment at 557 Main

    Jerome Studio Apartment at 557 Main is located in Jerome. This property has a terrace, free private parking and free WiFi. Offering a patio and city views, the apartment includes 1 bedroom, a living room, satellite flat-screen TV, an equipped kitchen, and a bathroom with a shower.Hiking ca
    Jerome Studio Apartment at 557 Main is located in Jerome. This property has a terrace, free private parking and free WiFi. Offering a patio and city views, the apartment includes 1 bedroom, a living room, satellite flat-screen TV, an equipped kitchen, and a bathroom with a shower.Hiking can be enjoyed nearby.
    9.5
    3 reviews

    Wine Tour from Sedona to four Verde Valley Vineyards in Luxury Transportation

    Our tour starts off by picking you up anywhere in Sedona, resort, motel or private home, in a custom Turtle Top tour coach, custom Mercedes Benz Sprinter or Ford Expedition depending on your tour size. We will go to 3 to 4 of the best local wineries. You will receive discounts on tastings
    Our tour starts off by picking you up anywhere in Sedona, resort, motel or private home, in a custom Turtle Top tour coach, custom Mercedes Benz Sprinter or Ford Expedition depending on your tour size. We will go to 3 to 4 of the best local wineries. You will receive discounts on tastings and bottles of wine, at some of the wineries. You may bring your own alcoholic (or nonalcoholic) beverages with you on the bus. At one of the wineries, we will have a picnic, outside next to the grapevines or inside. The picnic is served on linens, it includes your own personal charcuterie tray. This tray includes French bread, gourmet cheeses, hard salami, olive oil with balsamic vinegar, grapes, nuts, and chocolates, for each individual person on the tour. At one of the award-winning wineries, we will be touring the production facility and barrel room. There we will discuss the wine-making process and what it takes to make a cluster of grapes into an award-winning bottle of wine. Lots of smiles!

    Jerome History Walk

    Arizona once had a booming mining industry, known for copper and gold. Discover Arizona’s old mining history on a walking tour of the historic mining town of Jerome. Join a small group and explore the mining town stopping at key locations like the sliding jail, that slid off of its foundat
    Arizona once had a booming mining industry, known for copper and gold. Discover Arizona’s old mining history on a walking tour of the historic mining town of Jerome. Join a small group and explore the mining town stopping at key locations like the sliding jail, that slid off of its foundation into the street, as well as the mining museum. Listen to stories of the old mining town while you walk See old mining equipment and saloon remains.

    Montezuma Castle, Jerome and Sedona Day Tour From Scottdale or Phoenix

    Discover Arizona’s rich history and Native American heritage on this full-day tour from Scottsdale or Phoenix. Visit two National Monuments—Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot—and learn more about the Sinagua people as you admire the fascinating ruins. Afterward, explore the former mining town o
    Discover Arizona’s rich history and Native American heritage on this full-day tour from Scottsdale or Phoenix. Visit two National Monuments—Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot—and learn more about the Sinagua people as you admire the fascinating ruins. Afterward, explore the former mining town of Jerome and enjoy an included lunch in Sedona.

    Jerome Million Dollar View #3

    Jerome Million Dollar View #3 is located in Jerome. This property has a balcony, free private parking and free WiFi. The apartment has 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchenette, and a patio with city views.
    8.8
    16 reviews

    Connor Hotel

    Built in 1898 by David Connor, the Connor Hotel of Jerome has a colorful past, ranging from the heights of luxury to the depths of squalor and back again. Originally designed with 20 rooms upstairs, this first-class lodging establishment also offered a barroom, card rooms, and billiard tab
    Built in 1898 by David Connor, the Connor Hotel of Jerome has a colorful past, ranging from the heights of luxury to the depths of squalor and back again. Originally designed with 20 rooms upstairs, this first-class lodging establishment also offered a barroom, card rooms, and billiard tables on the first floor.
    9.1
    109 reviews

    Sedona with Jerome and Montezuma Castle One-Day Van Tour from Phoenix

    Explore the sights surrounding Sedona on this guided day trip. Head out from Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, or Mesa to see Sedona sights including the famous Red Rocks, Chapel of the Holy Cross, and more, followed by a visit to the old mining town of Jerome. This tour includes all admission f
    Explore the sights surrounding Sedona on this guided day trip. Head out from Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, or Mesa to see Sedona sights including the famous Red Rocks, Chapel of the Holy Cross, and more, followed by a visit to the old mining town of Jerome. This tour includes all admission fees as well as transportation among locations.

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