McFarland State Historic Park, Territorial courthouse complex in Florence, United States.
McFarland State Historic Park is a territorial-era courthouse complex in downtown Florence featuring seven rooms built from rammed adobe clay with a shingled roof. The ensemble includes the original 1878 courthouse building, a county recorder's office, and supporting structures that together document the area's administrative past.
The original structure on the site was built in 1878, a jail was added in 1882 and the courthouse in 1891. Ernest McFarland, a former US Senator, Governor of Arizona and Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, bought the old courthouse in 1974, donated it to the state and paid for its renovation. The park opened and was dedicated on October 10, 1979, and the courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The space tells the story of Florence's founding, where early settlers built their homes using local adobe clay and wood materials. Visitors can see how daily life unfolded in a territorial courthouse through the preserved rooms and furnishings.
The site is located in downtown Florence and is easily reached on foot, with free access throughout the year. The best time to visit is morning or early afternoon, when the adobe buildings cast less shadow and the interiors are more comfortable to explore.
The park is named for Ernest McFarland, who bought the old courthouse in 1974, gave it to the state and paid for its renovation; the park opened and was dedicated on October 10, 1979. Budget cuts closed it until February 2011, when it reopened after repairs.
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