The Oldest Bar In Arizona Has A Fascinating History
Arizona is chock-full of historic places and Old West saloons are just one of them! Today, we’re going to check out Arizona’s oldest bar, a saloon that initially dates back to the mid-19th-century in Arizona Territory’s first capital city, Prescott.
This is the Palace Restaurant and Saloon, which has seen its fair share of cowboys, lawmen, and other characters from the Old West. The saloon’s history may date back to 1864, significantly earlier than the commonly cited 1877, but the building itself dates to 1901.
Perhaps the most interesting story comes from 1900, when Whiskey Row went up in flames. Loyal patrons risked their lives by running back into the inferno to save the hand-carved bar. Once they moved the bar to a safe spot across the street, the heroes continued their drinking while the rest of the street burned.
The Palace Restaurant and Saloon is located at 120 South Montezuma Street in Prescott. You can find details about their hours of operation, menu, and more by visiting their website or Facebook page.
Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
