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The Douglas-Williams House bears the name of the two families who
resided there for over 80 years. James S. Douglas, the son of Dr. James
Douglas—after whom the town is named—called this house his home. Dr.
Douglas played a pivotal role in the development of copper mining in
Arizona and New Mexico during the late 1800s and early 1900s. James S.
was actively engaged with Phelps Dodge Corp., contributing to copper
operations in Arizona and Sonora. In 1943, Ben F. Williams, a
borderlands cattleman, miner, and inventor from Bacoachi, Sonora,
purchased the house. He, along with his son Ben F. Williams Jr., who
became an attorney and later served as Douglas Mayor, lived in the home.
After Ben Sr.'s passing, Ben Jr. sold the house to the State of Arizona.
The Douglas-Williams Museum now showcases period rooms dedicated to
the Douglas and Williams families, with regularly updated exhibits, a
research library, and specialty areas. Highlights include the
world-class Marty-Dess camera collection, artifacts from Douglas
smelters, Douglas schools memorabilia, and displays about the Douglas
Fire Department and Sonora’s Elías family, featuring Mexican President
Plutarco Elías Calles. The museum is conveniently located next to Church
Square, which hosts four churches on a single block, and Raúl Castro
Park, named after the former Arizona Governor who grew up in Douglas.
Today, this historic house is owned by the Arizona Historical
Society and serves as the official history museum for Douglas and its
surrounding areas.
See also:
•
Walter Douglas House
•
The Douglas mining Family
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