Jerome, Arizona

At the turn of the century 15, 000 people lived in Jerome. By 1950 the population had dropped to 50. Jerome was a mining town and when the mines gave out the people moved away. It became a ghost town inhabited by those who couldn't survive anywhere else. Today it is a vibrant artist community and a great destination for our drive today.

This is what Jerome looks like as you approach from Cottonwood, just a few old buildings clinging to the side of the mountain with 88 miles of mining tunnels under the town.

I can't imagine 15, 000 people living here.

Some buildings there is just the skeleton left,  .............................

others, .............  the full building is still in use.

Back street in Jerome. Just imagine life here in 1899.

I really like the way this shot turned out, old buildings in the background, modern cars in the foreground.

We spent an hour with the artist who created these unique sculptures in glass.

We stopped and admired the beautiful copper pieces in this store most originating from France.

This was Jerome's high school, built in 1923.  Today the classrooms have become artists' studios.

Original doors and stairway inside the school. Unfortunately no pictures or memorabilia from the days when students wandered the halls.

Don, waiting to see the principal;  just kidding.  Strolling these halls took us back to our own high school days.

Looking down into the school courtyard at Carol and Mary. The day was wonderful but it ended too soon.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures. We have free wifi so I can post all I want.