Vernetta Hotel - Wickenburg, AZ - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

Elizabeth Hudson Smith, a woman of African American descent, arrived in Wickenburg in 1897. She first stayed at the Baxter House, an adobe building of doubtful reputation. The owner hired Elizabeth and her husband to manage the property and her cooking soon attracted the attention of the community. The Santa Fe railroad encouraged her to build her own hotel and provide food and housing for travellers. She built the Vernetta Hotel, designed by James Creighton who was the most prominent architect of Arizona's territorial period. Elizabeth was a prominent member of the community during its early years, supplying the hotel kitchens from farms and ranches she owned. The Great Depression introduced racial prejudice due to economic competition and the hotel was shunned by travellers. Elizabeth passed away in 1935 and the dining room closed at that point. Today the building is known as the Hassayampa Building and houses a facility dedicated to treating anorexia. A strange twist of fate.
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Street address: 1 Apache St Wickenburg, AZ USA 85358 County / Borough / Parish: Maricopa Year listed: 1986 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Commerce; Transportation; Architecture Periods of significance: 1900-1924; 1925-1949 Historic function: Commerce Current function: Commerce Privately owned?: yes Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Secondary Website 2: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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