Jerome, Arizona: The Millionaire Mine Town That Became a Mountain of Art
Perched dramatically on the steep slopes of Cleopatra Hill, Jerome was once hailed as the “Wickedest Town in the West.” It was a roaring copper boomtown, a hotspot of vice and wealth, and later—after the mines went silent—a nearly abandoned ghost town reborn as a thriving hub for artists, wanderers, and heritage seekers.
With its precariously perched buildings, haunted hotels, and panoramic views of the Verde Valley, Jerome tells a story of rise, fall, and creative resurrection. It's a place where copper built empires and the ruins of industry became the scaffolding for imagination.
First Peoples and High Desert Hills
Long before miners tunneled into the hill, the land around Jerome was home to Yavapai and Apache tribes. These high desert mountains provided resources, shelter, and views across the expansive Verde Valley. While Indigenous peoples didn’t mine copper at industrial scale, they likely knew of the exposed green-tinged ores and traversed the mineral-laced hillsides.
The modern mining chapter began only in the late 1800s, when the mineral-rich hills drew attention from developers and entrepreneurs eager to exploit the wealth beneath the surface.
Copper Kings and the Town That Clung to the Hill
In 1876, prospectors staked the first claims on Cleopatra Hill, and by the 1880s, large-scale operations were underway. Backed by investors from the Northeast—including financier Eugene Jerome, for whom the town was named—the United Verde Mine exploded into productivity.
By the early 20th century, Jerome’s mines were producing millions of pounds of copper annually, along with gold, silver, and zinc. It became one of the largest copper producers in the United States, attracting thousands of workers from around the world: Mexican, Italian, Slavic, and Irish immigrants fueled the town’s population boom.
Jerome was a classic boomtown: rowdy, dangerous, and dizzyingly prosperous. Saloons, gambling halls, and brothels filled the crooked streets. The ground was unstable—both figuratively and literally—as landslides, fires, and collapses frequently damaged structures built on shifting tailings.
The arrival of the Arizona Central Railroad in the 1890s further boosted exports, linking Jerome to smelters and refining hubs. It was called a “billion-dollar copper camp”, and by 1929, over 15,000 people lived in Jerome.
But the copper wouldn’t last forever.
Decline, Ghost Town, and Artistic Resurrection
By the 1950s, the ore had been mostly mined out. Phelps Dodge Corporation closed the mines, and Jerome's population plummeted to fewer than 100 people. Many buildings were abandoned. Landslides took out entire blocks. The town seemed destined to fade into the desert wind.
But Jerome didn’t die—it transformed.
In the 1960s and 1970s, artists, musicians, writers, and free spirits moved in, drawn by cheap property, breathtaking views, and the town’s eerie beauty. They opened galleries, co-ops, and studios in the empty buildings. Slowly, Jerome reinvented itself as one of Arizona’s most creative enclaves, while preserving the skeleton of its mining days.
This new population didn’t erase Jerome’s past—they built on top of it, literally and culturally, turning collapse into character.
Jerome Today: Cliffside Charm and Living History
Modern-day Jerome is part historic site, part bohemian village, and part geological curiosity. Visitors can walk up and down its switchback streets, tour haunted hotels, or peer down into the gaping ruins of the old United Verde Mine.
Highlights include:
Jerome State Historic Park: Housed in the old Douglas Mansion, this museum tells the story of the mine, the town, and the people who lived and labored there.
Gold King Mine and Ghost Town: A quirky outdoor museum of mining relics, vehicles, and eccentric displays.
Haunted Jerome: With ghost tours and legendary haunts like the Jerome Grand Hotel, the town leans into its spectral side.
Art Galleries and Shops: Dozens of local artists maintain a thriving creative scene.
Jerome also hosts annual events like the Jerome Art Walk, Historical Home Tour, and seasonal festivals that draw thousands.
Despite its modern charm, Jerome continues to contend with the effects of its mining legacy. Erosion, slope stability, and old tailings require ongoing management to preserve its buildings and ensure safety.
Looking Ahead: Art Rising from Ore
Jerome is proof that towns are not frozen in time—they evolve, crack, rebuild, and breathe new life through new people. What was once one of Arizona’s richest mineral deposits has become one of its richest cultural destinations.
Looking Ahead: From Earth to Easel
Today, Jerome balances on its hillside like a living painting—layers of copper, culture, and creativity etched into stone. It is a place where the clang of the past still echoes, but where the present hums with brushes, guitars, and fresh ideas