A Valentine to Arizona: Art, History, and Statehood at Sharlot Hall Museum

Arizona Roundup with Stuart Rosebrook returns with a timely and thoughtful conversation recorded on location at Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott, Arizona. In this episode, host Stuart Rosebrook welcomes Paul Fees, Deputy Director of Programs, for a rich exploration of Arizona history, public art, and the living heritage celebrated each February on Arizona Statehood Day.

The discussion unfolds against the backdrop of unusually warm winter days in Prescott and the anticipation surrounding February 14, 1912—the day Arizona officially became the 48th state. Listeners are introduced to the Arizona 250 Traveling Museum, a statewide initiative marking the road toward America’s 250th anniversary, featuring Arizona’s replica Liberty Bell and a mobile, glass-sided exhibition bringing history directly to the public.

At the heart of the program is the long-awaited public presentation of a remarkable mural by artist Charles Kemp. Measuring seven feet high and twenty feet wide, the painting depicts Prescott’s courthouse plaza as it appeared around June of 1900, just weeks before the devastating fire that reshaped downtown. Once quietly displayed inside a local bank, the mural has now found its rightful home at Sharlot Hall Museum, where it can be appreciated as both fine art and historical document.

As Rosebrook and Fees explain, Kemp was part of a largely anonymous generation of commercial artists whose work shaped advertising, magazines, and early film design in the first half of the twentieth century. Though much of Kemp’s professional work was unsigned, this mural reveals his mastery of light, color, and composition—placing the viewer directly on Whiskey Row beneath Prescott’s unmistakable blue sky.

Beyond the mural, the episode highlights a full weekend of activity at the museum, including free admission for Statehood Day, additional art exhibitions, and opportunities to explore Prescott’s broader cultural landscape. From historic fashion in the exhibit “Dressed in Prescott” to works by Kate Cory, Bob Boze Bell, and Tom Ross, visitors are encouraged to experience the museum campus as a place where art, history, and community meet.

Arizona Roundup reminds listeners that Arizona’s story is not confined to textbooks or plaques—it lives in paintings, artifacts, buildings, and shared memories. This episode invites everyone to slow down, look closely, and rediscover the people and places that shaped the state.

THINGS TO REMEMBER
Arizona’s statehood story is alive and visible through art, artifacts, and place.
Public art can quietly shape our understanding of history until it is truly seen.
Sharlot Hall Museum serves as a guardian and storyteller of Arizona’s shared heritage.

THINGS TO SHARE
Invite friends and family to experience Arizona Statehood Day at the museum.
Share the story of the Charles Kemp mural as an example of rediscovered history.
Recommend Arizona Roundup as a way to stay connected to Prescott’s cultural life.

THINGS TO NOTE AND TAKE ACTION ON
Make time to explore local museums and historic sites.
Support organizations that preserve public art and regional history.
Attend community events that connect past, present, and future generations.

This episode of Arizona Roundup is both a celebration and an invitation—to step into Arizona’s story. Whether you are a lifelong resident or a first-time visitor, Sharlot Hall Museum offers a welcoming place to experience the art, history, and spirit that continue to define Arizona.