From the Librarian Files
Did you know Tucson was once the capital of the Arizona Territory?
In 1863, the U.S. Congress made Arizona a U.S. territory and Arizona became a state on February 14, 1912. Between those two dates the capital of the territory moved a few times.
· The first capital in 1863 was Fort Whipple in Chino Valley, Arizona.
· May 1864 the territorial capital was moved to Prescott.
· 1867, the territorial capital was moved to Tucson for ten years,
· 1877, the capital moved back to Prescott.
· Finally, Phoenix was declared the permanent capital starting on February 4, 1889.
Sources:
Arizona blue book 2003-2004 edition. Jan Brewer, Secretary of State. Publisher [Phoenix, Ariz.]. Pages 12-13.
Cosulich, Bernice, Tucson; with map of landmarks, references, glossary, chronology [and] bibliography. Tucson, Arizona Silhouettes [1953]. Pages 175-191.
Sonnichsen, C.L. Tucson, the life and times of an American City. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. c1982. Pages 56-58, 65-66, 68-69.
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