In the spring of 1916, an unknown photographer captured the heart of Prescott, Arizona. For decades the fruits of that labor, a collection of glass plate negatives, lay largely forgotten in the local opera house and theater. Now, an historic western town comes to life as it once was, through images of the town's business district as found on those photographic plates. Step into a soda fountain, a pool hall, a mercantile, a haberdashery, a saddlery and more, and experience life as it existed in the newly minted state of Arizona in the early twentieth century. This photographic history of Prescott, Arizona, is based upon more than 100 images from the 1916 glass-plate negatives. Complementary images of business advertisements, trade tokens, and streetscapes supplement the main photographs. Richly detailed captions highlight many aspects of the pictures, and the text further explores and describes the town's historic downtown district, much of which still exists. Maps, a bibliography and an index complete the work.

Near the center of Arizona, in the foothills of the Bradshaw Mountains, lies the small, unincorporated town of Mayer. With a population of less than 1500 people, Mayer remains unknown to almost all but its residents and neighbors, but its history is as lively and resonant as many larger cities. This volume chronicles the story of this rural western town and the men and women who put it on the map, including its founders, Joseph and Sarah Mayer, who established their settlement around Big Bug Stage Station, purchased for $1200 in 1882. It traces the continued influence of the Mayers and other early families through later generations and the town's role in the growth of ranching, the railroad and mining. Covering a spectrum of topics integral to the history of central Arizona, this study depicts the uncompromising landscape and pioneering spirit that defines the American frontier.