Specters of the Past: Arizona’s Ghost Towns – Surprise

The promise of unimagined riches is what brought many of the earliest colonizers to the Arizona Territory. Following the trail to the discovery of the mother lode, they built, then dismantled and finally abandoned communities when mines played out – leaving behind tantalizing clues of difficult hardships. Some towns survived like Bisbee, Jerome, Tombstone and Oatman. Most disappeared, gradually becoming absorbed back into the desert from which they arose. This presentation explores more than a decade of historian Jay Mark’s journeys to these fascinating ghost places, along with their stories – long-forgotten places like Charleston, Contention City, Mowry, Fairbank, Gleeson and Congress.

Historian Jay Mark’s career includes antiques and bookstore owner, commercial photography, professional theater, radio and television. He brings a lifetime of knowledge and experience to his lively and engaging presentations. A regular contributor of history-related articles to the Antique Register, Arizona Contractor and Community, and The Arizona Republic, Jay is also a published writer of seven antiques-related books. He is co-author of a history of the Buckhorn Baths in Mesa. A recipient of numerous awards honoring his service to the community, Jay remains actively engaged in issues relating to historic preservation, history museums, public transportation, urban planning and public policy.