Prescott was known as an “all-American” town from the beginning.  There were very few Mexicans and no adobe style architecture.  Unlike other early Arizona towns, Prescott was located in the mountains amid pine forests.  Lumber was readily available and wood frame buildings were the rule.

President Abraham Lincoln created the Arizona Territory in 1863, and Prescott was selected as the capital.  Prescott remained the territorial capital until 1867 when Tucson displaced the young mining town for the position.  Prescott became the capital again ten years later, but in 1889, Phoenix won the honor permanently. 

The town of Prescott was founded on May 30, 1864.  The town is named for William H. Prescott, author of the classic history, Conquest of Mexico.

Gold fever attracted the first white men to Prescott.  Panning for gold was early Prescott’s main industry.