The Douglas Mansion has been an eye-catching landmark in Jerome since 1916, when James S. Douglas built it on the hill just above his Little Daisy Mine. This former home is now a museum devoted to the history of the Jerome area and the Douglas family. The museum features photographs, artifacts and minerals in addition to a video presentation and a 3-D model of the town with its underground mines. There are more displays outside along with a picnic area offering a beautiful panoramic view of the Verde Valley.

The State Parks Board, in its evaluation of the State’s resources for park purposes in the late 1950’s, recognized that the town of Jerome could more than adequately tell the exciting mining history of the State. The Board knew Jerome was unique by its very location and existing condition; it is situated in a very scenic part of the State and in a historically significant region. All of the components were present for a State Park in Jerome, and it was placed on the Board’s Ten Year Plan in 1957.

M.O. Lindner Sr., State Representative and resident of the Verde Valley, had expressed interest in the Douglas building as a state park. Lindner was a prime mover in getting the State Parks legislation passed in 1957. A feasibility study completed in 1960, made in conjunction with the National Parks Service, recommended that the Douglas Mansion would be an ideal visitor center and museum facility where the mining story of Arizona could be told and properly interpreted. Appointed to the Parks Board at its inception, and serving as Chairman in 1961, was Zeke Taylor, Verde Valley cattleman and merchant. Taylor helped in much of the preliminary work making the Park a reality.

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