PRESCOTT - Courthouse Plaza in Prescott surrounds the Yavapai County Courthouse. At the north entrance, along a tree-covered walk, is the Arizona Rough Rider Monument by Solon H. Borglum, considered by art critics as one of the greatest equestrian monuments in the world.
Unveiled July 3, 1907, the bronze statue is of "Bucky" O'Neill on horseback.
A short distance away, flush with the grass in the plaza's northwest corner, is a small grave marker for "Mike."
Capt. William O. "Bucky" O'Neill, who died on San Juan Hill during the Spanish-American War, was a Prescott hero, mayor, miner, sheriff and newspaperman.
Mike, whose marker says only that he was the self-appointed guardian and official welcomer of the plaza, was a dog.
The monument tells visitors a lot about the kind of people who first settled in Prescott. Mike's grave tells a lot about the kind of people who still live there.
At first sight, this 4.1-acre square, with its huge shade trees (hauled here and planted by Bucky O'Neill) and lush, green lawn, reminds one of the Midwest. It is a comfortable and welcoming place. In fact, the American Planning Association selected the courthouse square as one of the Ten Great Public Spaces in 2008. Also on that list was New York City's Central Park.
Almost at any time on any day, especially during the warm weather months, the courthouse square is busy with people. They walk dogs; they jog; they read books; they sit to rest; they stroll while taking in the monuments; they stretch out on the cool, soft grass; they eat lunch on a bench; and they gather in small groups to visit on the gazebo. Many seem to be simply spending time watching people.
Thirty minutes of notes about a few of the people observed: tall man about 35 with backpack on and small revolver tucked in his belt; young woman, maybe 20, in short-sleeved dress and Doc Martin boots; businessmen in suits; tourists with cameras; young man in flannel shirt playing hacky sacky with his German shepherd; young couple holding hands walked past four times; skinny old cowboy in worn boots, black hat and a black eye.
Mapped in 1864, the square is bordered by Gurley, Montezuma, Goodwin and Cortez streets. Montezuma Street is better known locally as Whisky Row. Along all the streets of the Courthouse Plaza, and within easy walking distance, are many restaurants, bars, hotels, boutiques, clothing stores, gift shops, galleries and miscellaneous shops. Courthouse Plaza is truly an outdoor mall shopping experience.
If Courthouse Square is the center of the Plaza, the Hotel St. Michael is the cornerstone. The three-story hotel was opened June 1, 1901, on the site where the smaller Hotel Burke was destroyed by the fire of 1900. Part of the hotel's architecture includes gargoyles, which are said to represent local politicians. The hotel boasts such famous historical guests as President Theodore Roosevelt, John L. Sullivan, Tom Mix, Zane Grey and Sen. Barry Goldwater.
That fire in 1900 destroyed or damaged most of the saloons and brothels along Whisky Row. But it didn't destroy, or even slow down, the activity of Whisky Row. Several written accounts of that fire say that locals saved a 24-foot oak bar from the Palace Saloon and moved it across the street to the Courthouse Square. There the drinking continued while the conflagration raged.
The Palace had been built as a bar before the fire, and it was rebuilt as a bar after the fire. It is still open today as a restaurant and bar.
Along the north entrance to the square, engraved in the walkway, is a U-shaped timeline of the history of Yavapai County from 1581 to 2000. Arizona Territory was established in 1863, and a new brick courthouse was built on the plaza site in 1879. The current granite courthouse was built in 1915, three years after Arizona became a state.
On the south side of the square is another famous sculpture by Borglum, Cowboy At Rest, in recognition of the county's ranching heritage. A war monument is located on the west side of the courthouse. A gazebo and large fountain also add to the welcoming, "home-town" feel of the plaza.
The Courthouse Plaza also has a live entertainment schedule each year. This year's schedule started June 2 and runs through the end of August. The free shows are held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Some of this year's concert series headliners are the Central Arizona Concert Band, the Lynx Creek Cloggers and local rock, blues and country performers. A complete schedule is available on the Prescott Web site at www.cityofprescott.net.
In addition to the concert series, the Courthouse Plaza is the site of several weekend arts and crafts fairs. July 18-19 will be the Prescott Courthouse Arts & Crafts show. Aug. 8-9 will be the Mountain Artists Guild Summer Arts & Crafts show. The Faire on the Square will be Sept. 5-7, and the Historic Prescott All Corvette Car Show will be Sept. 17. Dogtoberfest will be held Sept. 27.
The Prescott Downtown Partnership puts on the weekend events and also many special events on Friday nights. For a complete schedule go to www.prescottdowntown.net.
The Prescott Trolley Company runs an Old West Trolley Tour that picks up riders at the northeast corner (Cortez and Gurley) of the Courthouse Plaza. The tour goes through the downtown area, the historic district with its restored Victorian homes, Smoki Museum, Fort Whipple and the Citizens Cemetery.
Two blocks west of the plaza is the Sharlot Hall Museum. It is the largest museum in Central Arizona. The museum will be the featured "Staycation" in the July 19 edition.
