b'IN 1891 CIVIL WAR VETERAN and rancher R.R. Richardson began investing in mines in the Santa Rita and Patagonia mountains. In 1893, Richardson began to develop a portion of his ranch, where the new railroad crossed Sonoita Creek, into a town, eventually named Patagonia after the nearby mountains.B y 1900, Patagonia rated a two-story railroadand geographic depot and by WWI Patagonia had runningdiversity, rare not water, an opera house, three hotels, ajust in the US but in schoolhouse, two parks, and several stores andmuch of the world.saloons. The mines closed decades ago, but the mountain town has persevered thanks to tourism.As the speed limit slows at the edge of town,Today its a hub for artists and bird-watchers. take that as a signal to get out of your car and the center building was home to Anne Stradlings Patagonia is appropriately proud of its history andexplore this quirky Arizona town. Youll findMuseum of the Horse. In the 1930s the Patagonia distinctive character. Cowboy culture is alive and wellcharming coffee shops, a throwback bar, and trulyMercantile, Soda Fountain, Post Office, Bolinger in the Mountain Empire. Visitors come to stay at theinteresting retail stores.Rentals, Evans Mercantile, Dawson Scoggins Saloon, local guest ranches, and horseback riding is a wayCharley May Texaco Station, a pool hall, shoemaker of life not just for local ranchers but for many of theHISTORIC WALKING TOUR and a barbershop occupied the district.town locals as well. The community of Patagonia, inPatagonias downtown is a perfect spot to getparticular, is home to many talented artists, artisansout and wander. Monument: After hours of lobbying, Patagonia and writers. Here youll find potters, weavers, jewelryCouncilmembers Raymond Bergier and Henrietta makers, painters, folk and avant-garde artists, as wellRailroad Depot: The two-story wooden depotTaylor convinced railroad executives to gift the as many known and not so well-known writers. was built in 1900. In 1962 the railroad line wasabandoned rail bed to the Town of Patagonia.abandoned. The depot building was purchased by The elevation makes for milder summerE.B. Thurber and donated to the town. The rails wereLa Mision de San Miguel: A 1915 adobe building, temperatures than much of Arizona, plus there aresold to Gillette Company for razor materials. In 1964previously the Big Steer Bar.a number of cooling lakes within the general area.the depot was moved 45 feet away from the expanded Yet in winter the occasional dusting of snow usuallyHighway 82. On the depot grounds is a sign thatMesquite Grove Gallery: The former adobe home ofmelts by noon except in the shady crevices of thedirects walkers to the Patagonia Train Track Trail, anPatagonia founder, Rollin Rice Richardson.surrounding mountains. Spectacular mountaineasy 2-mile non-motorized trail that follows the old ranges soar above the desert floor creating SkySouthern Pacific rail bed from the old depot to thePatagonia Community Church: Built in 1922 byIslands which harbor tremendous biologicaltown limits. volunteers using hand-poured concrete.Original Commercial District: Currently theRichardson Park: In 1926 the RRR estate donated original district runs from the Stage Stop Innthis land to the town. The Community Garden was to the Long Realty Office. From 1960 to 1983,established in 1999 from a portion of the park.366 Duquesne: A two-story wooden structure built next to the railroad line in 1904, the Railroad Section Foreman Residence, was moved to its present location in 1964.The Duquesne Bed and Breakfast: An adobe row house built in 1898 to house the railroad workers and miners.Cady Hall: Formerly the Patagonia Hotel, this adobe was built between 1901 and 1912 by John H. Cady. It served as a hotel, restaurant, dance hall and skating rink. Now it is home to the Patagonia Library established in 1957 by the LA MISION DE SAN MIGUEL Patagonia Womens Club.Lopez Pool Hall: Built of adobe circa 1940 by Nogales adobero Isidro Barron Jill Richards/mwg.aaa.com for owners, Bartolo and Amelia Lopez.24 March 2023'