b'Steve Minor/ FlickrDouglas, Arizona is a small, charming border community with very friendly people and over 100 years of rich history. The city has a population of about 15,000 residents and you can feel the Latino touch in this town.t oday, visitors and residents alike enjoyanother day you may arrange it by the areas green spaces and wildlife as wellappointment. 520-364-7370as the towns many historical gems. There are 400 buildings under the National Register ofGrand TheatreHistoric Places in Douglas, if you pay attentionThe Douglas Grand Theater was you may spot them while walking around. Nestleddesigned by M. Eugene Durfee, against the Mexico border, Douglas offers easya prolific architect whose work is access to authentic Mexican shopping and diningcelebrated across southern California in its sister city of Agua Prieta. Crossing theand Arizona. It was built in 1919 and border to explore is easy by foot or car, just be surewas the largest theater between Los to carry your passport for re-entry. Angeles and San Antonio.Though remote, especially by early 20th century With an economy that once relied heavily onstandards, the Grand Theatre hosted mining and cattle ranching, now much of itssome big names in entertainment over the years. Ginger economic activity is generated by the visitors who flockIn 1911, during the conflict known as the Border War,Rogers, Anna Pavlova, and John Phillip Sousa are some to the area to see such towns as Tombstone, Tubac,a United States Army camp was established at theof the famous faces to have graced the theaters stage. and Bisbee. The large nature preserves in the area offerranch and was called Camp San Bernardino Ranch orIt also housed a tea room, candy store, and barbershop excellent hiking, bird-watching, and photographythe Slaughter Ranch Outpost. The site is now knownin its glory days. Today the theater is undergoing a opportunities, as well as access to underground caverns,as the Slaughter Ranch. An interesting note is thatreconstruction, using private donations of money, abandoned mines, and Native American sites too. there are ruins on the property now owned by the USsupplies, and labor.Fish & Wildlife Service where a Mormon employee of HISTORIC DOUGLAS Slaughters built a home (called the Mormon House)In 1976 the theatre was recognized by the National Douglas early history dates back hundreds of years to thestraddling the US-Mexico border so he could keep aRegister of Historic Places. It was later added to the 1500s and the early Spanish explorers. Cabeza de Vacawife in the US and a wife in Mexico. The home has two"Endangered List" of historical buildings, requiring established a route from Mexico between 1535 and 1536.rooms, one on each side of the border, with a breezewayimmediate measures for its preservation. In March 2018, The region was also part of Nueva Espaa during the 1700sconnecting them. Border Arts Corridor acquired the non-profit status and an early presidio was located just east of present-dayfrom Douglas Arts and Humanities Association which Douglas. The San Bernardino Presidio was just one of theThe El Paso and Southwestern Railroad depot washad been serving the community since 1972. Along with presidios established during that period. The now-famousan important train station. It transported copper tothe 501(c)(3) designation came ownership of the historic San Bernardino Ranch and Wildlife Refuge was part oflarge manufacturing concerns in the East. The depotGrand Theatre. They are working to create an open-air that original settlement. It is significant for its associationis considered one of the finest examples of railwaytheatre with spaces that can be used as art galleries, and with the beginning of cattle ranching in southern Arizonaarchitecture of the early 20th century and has beento host community events, which will hopefully return and northern Mexico. The ranchland and valley are part ofrestored to its former elegance where you can stepthe historic theatre to its former glory.the headwater region of the Yaqui River. inside the rotunda and see the stained-glass ceiling. The building is now used for the Douglas police station. Named after mining pioneer James Douglas, the town of Douglas was settled as a smelter site for the nearbyWHAT TO SEE:copper mines of Bisbee but local history stretches backThe Douglas-Williams Houseeven further. Figures such as Geronimo, Cochise, WyattThe redwood house was constructed in 1908 and as the Earp, and cattle ranching baron John Slaughter all playedformer residence of James Douglas it is one of the towns a part in the regions past. must-see historic sites and museums. Its located at 1001 D Avenue downtown and is brimming with displays, On June 28, 1854, the valley became part of the Gadsdenexhibits, and historical items related to Douglas history. Purchase from Mexico. The original Mexican land grantThe museum also has one of the areas most extensive of 73,240 acres was purchased by Ignacio Perez in 1822records of genealogy, which may help you trace your for 90 pesos. He was chased from his land by Apachesroots to the area, especially if your family has been in in the 1830s. In 1884 a famous Old West gunfighter,Arizona for generations. It houses one of the states Texas John Slaughter, purchased 65,000 acres frommost comprehensive photographic collections. Open Perezs heirs for approximately $80,000. Two-thirds of hisevery Wednesday and Saturday from 1 pm to 4 pm, property lay in Mexico, with the remaining third in thethe museum welcomes visitors. If youd like to visit on Arizona Territory.24 May 2021'