Whiskey Row History

Tickets are still available at https://www.prescotttombstoneconnection.org/event-details/2026-prescotts-doc-hollidaze-weekend

Come celebrate Doc Holliday's 175th birthday during the second annual Prescott's Doc HolliDaze in the Hassayampa Inn's beautiful Marina Room. Enjoy a dinner followed by the Whiskey Row Historian, Brad Courtney's presentation "Kate Elder of Prescott: The Pursuit of 'Mrs. Holliday's' Story in the Pioneers' Home." Kate wrote her memoirs in the Pioneers' Home in Prescott using three different ways to do so. The story of how that came about and the chase for her story is as fascinating as Kate herself. Tickets are still available!

IF YOU ONLY WANT TO ATTEND DOC'S BIRTHDAY DINNER, THAT IS POSSIBLE. SCROLL DOWN TO THE FOURTH BOX ON THE PTCP EVENT PAGE.

https://www.prescotttombstoneconnection.org/events

An announcement from Prescott's Doc HolliDaze.

An excerpt from the work in progress Doc Holliday in Prescott.

"Whiskey Row was what Doc was looking for before Tombstone became what he was looking for."

Thank you, The Tombstone Epitaph! It should be noted, however, that the WRH's primary home in Prescott. https://tombstoneepitaph.com/pages/newspaper/subscriptions.shtml

This is absolutely wonderful!

More on the art/science of studying history.

Hence, here we must pause to discuss the importance and the function of reasoned speculation and conjecture in the search for true history. A deeper look into the issue of speculation reveals that it is often the path that leads to the provably true. Speculation points the way. In the court of history, it is used to answer the foundation question “How?” And it is often employed to answer the four other “W” foundational question words, “Who? What? When?” And even “Where?” Perhaps most importantly, “Why?” It is that question that leads to a better understanding of human nature and the human condition. Therein lies the most critical function of history.

Stuart Rosebrook and his Arizona Roundup is always just a relaxed fun time with a great friend.

Doc Holliday Comes Home: How a Simple Idea Became One the West's Most Exciting History Celebrations Sometimes history begins with dusty archives. Sometimes it begins a...

The original Palace Saloon that relates to today's Palace was established in 1883 on Goodwin Street approximately where today's Prescott Chamber of Commerce office is (see attached photo, the building to the left of J.W. Wilson & Co. and two doors east of the Sherman House). The 1877 claim came from a research mistake and another Palace that was short-lived on Gurley. However, the Palace's roots actually trace back to 1874. Pitch in if you know why!

Here is an excerpt from Prescott's Original Whiskey Row, available worldwide on Amazon.

"The people of Prescott immediately saw the Sherman House as something special. The Courier and people of Prescott “expressed delight at beholding so good a hotel in this frontier town.” Nathan Ellis and Al Whitney, the most recent owners of the still-flourishing Diana Saloon, saw an opportunity too good to pass up. They predicted that the Sherman House would attract a large clientele. A saloon near it would certainly benefit from this. They decided to build one as part of the Sherman Block.
Ellis was the spokesperson for this undertaking. The public watched with interest as Prescott’s latest “resort” arose. As it neared completion, all noticed it was lacking two main ingredients, both of which residents had been crying out for since Prescott’s inception.
The Courier’s take on this would unfortunately prove prophetic: “N. Ellis says that he will make [his new saloon] both useful and ornamental and yet we sigh for a stone or brick structure.” Ellis responded by pointing his finger at other Prescott business owners still using lumber for their structures. When they switch to brick and stone and mortar, he retorted, so would he and co-proprietor, Whitney. Even the brand-new Sherman House was constructed of wood."
On Saturday, June 23, 1883, Prescott’s newest saloon opened in grand fashion. With a bottle of champagne, it was christened “The Palace.” It was touted as not only the largest saloon in northern Arizona but also, in refinement, the finest in the Southwest.