The conference venue is the Prescott Resort and Conference Center (www.prescottresort.com).  It is probably the finest hotel in the area with nice extra facilities such as a salon and spa, fitness facility, and indoor pool and Jacuzzi. For those who haven’t learned that mining is a gamble (or have been lucky) there is also a casino next door.

Prescott is the County Seat of Yavapai County.  Courthouse Plaza is the setting for community events, outdoor entertainment, and arts and crafts shows.  Nearby is historic Whisky Row whose saloons once catered to cowboys and, no doubt, miners.  The town boasts over 800 structures on the National Register of Historic Buildings.  Hiking, biking, horseback riding, golf, and the zoo are a few of the outdoor options for visitors.

There are three outstanding museums in Prescott, two of which are in the downtown area.  The Sharlot Hall Museum (www.sharlot.org) is the premier historical museum of northern Arizona.  The Smoki Museum (www.smokimuseum.org) has renowned exhibits of Native American culture. The Phippen Museum (www.phippenartmuseum.org) featuring the art and heritage of the American West is located a few miles out of town on US 89.

Nearby Jerome will be the site of the Friday afternoon field trip, but there is plenty to see that the field trip won’t be able to cover. Driving time from the Prescott Resort to Jerome is approximately one hour each way. Weekends in Jerome are extremely crowded but participants may want to return to Jerome on Monday if they wish to see more. The Jerome Historical Society’s museum (www.jeromehistoricalsociety.com/museum.html) in downtown Jerome is definitely a “must see.” There are a lot of boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants, all ready, willing, and able to serve the tourist.

Those arriving early or staying over after the conference have several sightseeing options.  Montezuma Castle Nat. Monument (www.nps.gov/tuzi) near Camp Verde on I-17, has a high-rise Indian cliff dwelling.  Tuzigoot National Monument (www.nps.gov/moca) north of Cottonwood has an Indian pueblo complex.  The Clemenceau Heritage Museum (www.clemenceaumuseum.org) in Cottonwood has outstanding exhibits primarily pertaining to the United Verde Extension mine and smelter.  It has a model of all the railroads and aerial trams that once served the area.  The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. A special visit can be arranged for Monday, June 11, 2012. Those interested should contact Bill Hawes (address below).

Clarkdale was at one time a model planned community, built by William A Clark to house the employees of the smelter. It is worth driving around for a trip through the past to see how things were almost 100 years ago.  The Verde Canyon Railroad (www.verdecanyonrr.com, 800-582-7245) departs Clarkdale for a scenic 20 mile ride along the Verde River.  Weekend reservations may have to be made months ahead, week days still require advance reservations.

Sedona and its famous red rocks are located about an hour and a half from Prescott. The drive on 89A from Prescott to Flagstaff, through Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, is one of the major scenic drives in Arizona.  Grand Canyon National Park (www.nps.gov/grca) is also an easy full-day trip.  Those interested in doing so are reminded that gasoline, food, and lodging are a lot more reasonable in Prescott than at Grand Canyon or Williams.

For those driving to Prescott from the east on I-40, the mining museum in Grants, NM is a “must see” (www.grants.org). It tells the story of the uranium boom in the area.  The Petrified Forest National Park (www.nps.gov/pefo) is located east of Holbrook, AZ.  A little west of Winslow AZ is the Meteor Crater (www.meteorcrater.com). The visitor’s center is as well done.  The crater and its namesake, Barringer, was the subject of a paper presented at the MHA meeting in Silver City.