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Jerome Wild West Tour: History of Copper Mining Town
4.7
129 Ratings
Jerome
Unveil the salacious wild west of Jerome on our accredited tour. Explore the rise and fall of the largest copper mining town, encounter famous figures, and discover intriguing historical events.
Unveil the salacious wild west of Jerome on our accredited tour. Explore the rise and fall of the largest copper mining town, encounter famous figures, and discover intriguing historical events.
Duration:
1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Audrey Headframe Park - Situated adjacent to Jerome State Historic Park, the Audrey Shaft Headframe Park welcomes visitors daily from 8 am to 5 pm. Managed by the Jerome Historical Society, this park allows guests to stand on glass above a 1,900-foot shaft, which is 650 feet taller than the Empire State Building’s highest point! It boasts the…
- Audrey Headframe Park - Situated adjacent to Jerome State Historic Park, the Audrey Shaft Headframe Park welcomes visitors daily from 8 am to 5 pm. Managed by the Jerome Historical Society, this park allows guests to stand on glass above a 1,900-foot shaft, which is 650 feet taller than the Empire State Building’s highest point! It boasts the largest wooden headframe still standing in Arizona, completed in 1918.
- Jerome State Historic Park - This Arizona state park features the Douglas Mansion, constructed in 1916 by a prominent mining family in Jerome, a mining area in the northeastern Black Hills, east Yavapai County. The old Douglas Mansion now houses a museum.
- United Verde Copper Company - Historic Marker - Established in 1882, this mine was owned by Territorial Governor Frederick Tritle. Funding for large-scale mining was secured from New York investors like Eugene Jerome, after whom the town was named. The rich ore mined here for over 70 years produced more than a billion dollars in copper, gold, silver, zinc, and iron, making it the world’s largest copper producer during World War I.
- Sliding Jail - In the 1930s, much of Jerome experienced landslides due to fault lines, massive explosions from the United Verde Copper Company, and water erosion. During this period, parts of Jerome moved 1.5 feet monthly. The sliding jail shifted approximately 225 feet from its original location.
- Jerome Historical Society Mine Museum - Opened in the early 1950s, the Museum and Gift Shop showcase Jerome’s history from past to present. Exhibits include old mining equipment and remnants of saloon gambling.
- Jerome Winery - The tour will pass by several of Jerome’s excellent wineries.
What's Included
- Air-conditioned vehicle for half of the tour
- Air-conditioned vehicle for half of the tour
Additional Information
Join our certified tour guide for an exciting journey back in time to explore Jerome’s intriguing wild west history. Discover the rise and fall of the world’s largest copper mining town, which generated over a billion dollars in precious metals. Learn about legendary figures like Billy the Kid and Wyatt Earp, the notorious murder of brothel owner…
Join our certified tour guide for an exciting journey back in time to explore Jerome’s intriguing wild west history. Discover the rise and fall of the world’s largest copper mining town, which generated over a billion dollars in precious metals. Learn about legendary figures like Billy the Kid and Wyatt Earp, the notorious murder of brothel owner Belgian Jennie, and the rule of the Cuban Queen. Our tours are endorsed by the Jerome Historical Society for their excellence and accuracy, drawing from the JHS archives and personal interviews with the archives manager. All our tour guides are Jerome locals and active JHS members.
Location
403 Clark St
Clark Street
We are located in unit B-7 of the historical UVX building. The UVX is located on Clark St between Haunted Hamburger and the Fire Station above the park.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(129 Ratings)
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Kerry_s
Mar 20, 2026
Our tour guide was amazing! She went the extra mile and we felt like we had the bonus tour! Thumbs up to her! - The tour was outstanding. Wish I could remember the name of our tour guide she was spectacular. We got the extended tour and I felt like we got such a bonus. I would definitely recommend this to anyone traveling to the Sedona area!
Review provided by Viator
Cynthiakd7138zd
Mar 14, 2026
Fascinating History - Excellent history tour, knowledgeable guide, fascinating locations, definitely recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bronwen_m
Mar 13, 2026
Small Town; Big History - For a small town, Jerome has a big history. Our guide, Ed, was one of those people who makes history come alive. Some people have the gift of storytelling….he was great! I didn’t realize Jerome was built on the side of a mountain. If you’re not a heights person, don’t look down! LOL
Review provided by Viator
Stardancer6691
Feb 26, 2026
Excellent historical information - We took this tour today. In Jerome, and had an excellent guide, Courtney, who was articulate, knowledgable and passionate about accurately presenting the good, the bad, the scandalous, and the hopeful. We loved the presentation, part of which was walking, let of which was in a van, with a few stops.
What we didn’t realize from the description of the tour was that it would be a fair amount of walking, some uphill, steps, and in and out of a van. We actually thought it was a lecture and slide show at the historical society. We would have worn sneakers, and brought water.
Despite our own misunderstanding, we loved the stories, and Courtney was very descriptive, humorous, and really set the stage for all the information about the rise and fall and resurrection of the town of Jerome. We heard about the miners, the town founders, the fires, the brothels, the churches, the copper mines, the blasting that collapsed many of the buildings, and the rebuilding and renovations of the town as a center for arts, wineries, B and B’s, eateries and other forms of tourism. We especially liked the visit to the Catholic Church that still has services. Jerome has a remarkable history, still being written.
Yes, we would highly recommend the tour, we learned a lot, and enjoyed the time.
But I would think this isn’t appropriate for kids under 12, or for people who aren’t agile enough to walk hills, and do steep steps. Wear sneakers. Bring water.
Thanks, Courtney, great job!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Betty_a
Feb 23, 2026
Is a history tour of... - Is a history tour of Jerome. Very informative and interesting to hear the beginning and experiences of the people who established this community.
Review provided by Viator
Jimmydairy
Feb 17, 2026
Anniversary trip - Austin was a fun guide. He really knew his history.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Llbeany6
Feb 15, 2026
Well worth the money! Do it! - I've taken many tours in the last year, and this is in my top 5. There was a choice between the ghost tour and the wild west tour. Paranormal stuff isn't my thing so I was glad that wild west was an option. I learned so much! The history of Jerome is absolutely fascinating, and we could tell that our guide Ed has a passion for history. He was clear, truly knowledgeable, and happy to answer questions. He gave us time to take pics and was really just an interesting fellow all around. I even left with some book recommendations about Jeromes wicked history. I will highly recommend this tour! We're STILL talking about it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tylerrq2303uj
Nov 23, 2025
Very educational - Fantastic experience. Super sexy host. Very educational. Amazing place to visit and learn about. Will come back again
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tara_e
Nov 21, 2025
Great way to learn more... - Great way to learn more about the history of the town of Jerome. Courtney is a fantastic guide and we enjoyed our experience!
Review provided by Viator
Mojogogowego
Mar 30, 2026
Great history tour - Informative. Guide was pleasant and knowledgeable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
