Wickenburg's past unveiled in Litchfield Park lecture

By Mary Goldmeer
Mail

The P.W. Litchfield Heritage Center, in partnership with the City of Goodyear, hosted a lecture that delved into the rich and often-overlooked history of Wickenburg, Arizona. The event, part of the museum's "Legacy Lecture Series," drew an audience to learn about the town’s origins, from its early days of rugged exploration to its modern identity.

The presentation was led by Joe Stevens, a master docent from the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg. Stevens began his talk by transporting the audience back in time, years before Wickenburg was officially founded. He introduced two key figures from the 1830s: Pauline Weaver and Joseph Walker. Weaver, a trapper of Cherokee descent, was a seasoned guide in the Southwest, while Walker was an explorer known for being one of the first to traverse the Sierra Nevada and reach the Pacific in 1833. Stevens emphasized how these early adventurers laid the groundwork for future prospecting in the region.

“We don’t know all of where they had been, but they made it and their trek across (the states) was just absolutely incredible,” Stevens said.

The core of the lecture centered on the life of Henry Wickenburg, the town's namesake. A Prussian immigrant who arrived in the United States in the mid-1840s, Wickenburg became a prospector. In 1863, he joined a party led by Weaver and, after a series of events, found himself near what is now Wickenburg. It was here that he discovered a massive quartz outcropping with a rich gold vein. This discovery became the legendary Vulture Mine, triggering a frantic gold rush that would draw an estimated 20,000 miners to the area.

“Rich Hill, Vulture Mine, the hope for gold drove the community,” Stevens said. 

Stevens highlighted the ingenuity of the early miners and settlers. With no advanced machinery available, they relied on early milling methods. Wickenburg, who had worked on a steamship, knew about steam power but couldn’t transport the necessary equipment. Instead, he and others used a system called an arrastra. This involved using a central post and crossbar with large, heavy rocks attached, which were then dragged in a circle by an animal to crush the ore.

“It was a primitive, primitive method and even though steam mechanisms were available, they were inaccessible,” Stevens said. 

To sustain the burgeoning mining community, a thriving agricultural industry emerged in the fertile Hassayampa River bottom. Farmers began growing crops to supply the miners, establishing what would eventually become the foundations of the town's economy. Stevens also shared a fascinating piece of history, noting that the canals built by these early settlers were the very first canals ever excavated in what would become Phoenix, making Wickenburg's founders the founding fathers of Phoenix.

However, the town’s early years were not without tragedy. Stevens recounted what he described as the greatest disaster in Arizona history at the time: the catastrophic failure of a dam in 1890. A poorly constructed dam with unqualified superintendents burst, sending a 110-foot wall of water down the canyon. 

“The flood swept away the Chinese workers (building an addition to the damn) leaving only fragments of their bodies behind,” said Stevens. “It was truly a tragedy.”

The disaster also reshaped the riverbed, removing the community’s top soil and creating the sandy expanse seen today and caused the decision to allow the railroad to pass through the town, setting the stage for a new chapter in its history.

The lecture then transitioned to the 20th century, where Stevens detailed how the advent of the automobile and the development of major highways transformed Wickenburg's destiny. The construction of Highway 60 from Phoenix to California and Highway 89 from Wickenburg to Prescott cemented the town as a vital stop for travelers.

“The state was connected through Wickenburg, you simply had to pass through to get anywhere,” said Stevens. 

Wickenburg's unique appeal also led to the rise of its famous guest ranch industry that still exists today. Stevens spoke of iconic establishments like the Rancho de los Caballeros, the Flying E Ranch, and the Kay El Bar Guest Ranch. He explained that these ranches offered a distinct experience for visitors, particularly for Hollywood stars and, more recently, for country music artists seeking a private retreat away from the crowds of Phoenix.

The event offered a detailed historical account and highlighted the ongoing efforts of the local historical society to preserve and share the rich cultural heritage of the West Valley.

Visit pwlhc.org for information on future lectures and  westernmuseum.org for more information on the history of Wickenburg.