Early morning we started from Flagstaff and headed towards the village of Jerome. This place is situated on a hill called Cleopatra in the Black Hills region of Arizona. Even though Native Americans inhabited this area for centuries, the more interesting history of this region starts around 1876 when rich copper deposits were discovered in this region. United Verde Copper Company started its first mine here in 1883. The campsite of this mine was named after the main stakeholder in the company called Eugene Jerome. In addition to copper, they also found gold and silver in the Verde Valley. Until 1900, this was the most productive mine in America. A railway line was built for hauling the metals. In 1912, Little Daisy Mine Company, owned by Jimmy Douglas, started operating here.
The two companies extracted millions of dollars worth of metals. During the peak period in 1929 copper was 24 cents per pound, however, after the First World War and during the economic depression of 1932 it slid down to 5 cents per pound. By 1935, the mines were closed. Between 1924 and 1930, many villages were buried under the debris of multiple earthquakes. At its peak in 1920, the population of the town was 10,000. In 1950 population of the village was only100.
In 1953, it was decided to develop tourism in this area. In 1962, the Douglas family donated the mining sites, buildings and machinery to the government. It is now a State Park and a museum of mining history displaying photos of the bygone era, machinery, metals, minerals, ores and a model of the town and the mines. Jimmy Douglas’s library is also preserved. One can watch a film depicting history of what happened here. Jerome was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1967.
Jerome is now an art colony where more than 400 artists like painters, singers, instrumental players, potters and craftsmen are living. It is also a place for historic tours and biking conventions. It has become a popular tourist place with many art galleries, coffee shops and restaurants.
Meera's Travels 