John C. Frémont House

Completed in 1875, this modest structure was built with local milled lumber when the town of Prescott was little more than a decade old. At that time it was considered one of the more desirable residences in town.

John Charles Frémont found it a suitable residence while he served as the fifth territorial governor of Arizona (1878-1881). Frémont gained fame as the “Great Pathfinder” because of his pre-Civil War expeditions to the West. He ran for president of the United States as the first standard bearer for the Republican Party in 1856. Later he served briefly as a Union general. His career waned after the war, and his appointment as governor was seen as a means of improving his fortunes.

The Frémonts resided here briefly, paying $90 a month for rent. It is likely that the house would have been sparsely decorated because it was a rental property from which the Frémonts were absent frequently. The cost of buying things to decorate a temporary residence in the pre-railroad era or bringing out large items from the former residence of the Frémonts also suggest Spartan surroundings, as was the case for most army officers posted to the Arizona Territory.

Despite these challenges, the governor’s accomplished wife, Jessie Benton Frémont, used the home for social gatherings. After she returned to the East, their daughter Lily assumed the duties of hostess and homemaker.

Through the years, the house deteriorated. In 1971 it was scheduled for demolition. People in the community rallied and with a combination of private and public funds arranged for the structure to be moved from downtown to the Museum grounds.  Restoration, based in part on Lily Frémont’s diary, proceeded slowly, but after considerable effort the house became a gem complete with furnishings from the 1875-1881 period.