1. Homesteading in Arizona
Homesteading was a major factor in the Euroamerican settlement of Arizona, accounting for approximately three million acres of land transferred into private ownership. Homesteading occurred in a variety of ways as settlers took advantages of changing public land laws and applied them to the particular circumstances of Arizona’s varied terrain and economy. This study provides guidelines for the evaluation of historic homesteads for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and suggests a number of research questions relevant to the archaeological remains of historic homesteads.

2. Commerce in Phoenix, 1870-1942
In the period prior to World War II, Phoenix served as the commercial center for the growing agricultural and urban economy that settled in the Salt River Valley. This study provides an overview of the history of commerce in Phoenix, examines the locational pattern of commercial development, and categorizes the important types of commercial properties.

3. Gold and Silver Mining in Arizona, 1848-1945
This study provides an overview of the history of gold and silver mining in Arizona, an important stimulus to its early exploration and settlement by Euroamericans. It also examines the types of properties associated with gold and silver mining and provides guidelines for evaluating them for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

4. The Chinese in Arizona, 1870-1950
This context briefly summarizes the history of the Chinese in the American West and in Arizona. It also includes an inventory of recorded Chinese historic properties, some suggestions of where future survey efforts might discover unrecorded Chinese properties, and a discussion of several preservation planning issues and strategies for proactively identifying, evaluating, and preserving remnants of the Chinese heritage of Arizona.

5. The United States Military in Arizona, 1846-1945
The United State military has played an important role in the development of Arizona, first as the instrument to subjugating the native Indian tribes that allowed Euroamerican settlement, and second as an important mainstay of the Arizona economy. The military’s role underwent significant changes over the period, from army of conquest, to guardian of the national boundary, to training for troops in world conflicts. This study provides an overview of the military’s activities in Arizona through the Second World War and identifies property types associated with the military.

6. Transcontinental Railroading in Arizona, 1878-1940
The crossing of Arizona by two transcontinental railroad lines, the Southern Pacific and the Atlantic & Pacific (Santa Fe), both created vital national links between the eastern and western United States and greatly boosted the settlement and development of Arizona. This study examines these two important railroads and identifies property types associated with their construction and operation in the era of steam locomotion. It also considers the special challenges associated with preserving railroad-related properties and offers guidelines for the evaluation of these properties to the National Register of Historic Places.

7. Prehistoric Rock Art in Arizona
One of the most intriguing and enigmatic property types associated with the prehistoric peoples of Arizona are the thousands of intaglios, pictographs, and petroglyphs that constitute a wide range of rock art. This study summarizes archaeological studies of rock art in Arizona and identifies the many styles that have been identified. It also addresses measures to protect rock art sites from vandalism and looting and provides guidelines for evaluating rock art sites for listing in the National Register.

8. Historic Trails in Arizona from Coronado to 1940
Historic trails mark paths of exploration, connect places, and create paths of intersection between the important cultural groups—Indian, Spanish, and Euroamerican—that created Arizona. This context provides an overview of the historical development of the various trail systems and transportation corridors that traversed Arizona from 1540 through 1940. It classifies types of trails and explores many of the difficult issues related to the evaluation and preservation of historic trails.

9. Prehistoric to Historic Transition Period in Arizona, circa AD 1519 to 1692
The era of initial contact between the Spanish conquerors and settlers in the Americas and the existing native inhabitants created conditions leading to profound cultural changes among Arizona’s Indian tribes. Although they remained largely outside of direct Spanish control, Arizona’s tribes increasingly interacted with this new culture through the exchange of goods and the effects of Spanish missionizing and colonial settlement. This study examines the broad range of cultural exchange and its impacts on many of Arizona’s tribes. It also includes an inventory of sites associated with this era of contact, describes their scientific and educational values, and provides guidelines for National Register eligibility evaluation.

10. Paleoindian and Archaic Sites in Arizona
This study summarizes research conducted on the earliest human occupation of Arizona. It identifies property types associated with paleoindians and archaic sites, considers research questions relevant to the study of these sites, and provides guidelines for evaluating these properties for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

11. NEW! Prehistoric Water Utilization and Technology in Arizona
The State Historic Preservation Offices's newest historic context study is completed and available for purchase now. The context study provides an overview of research, property types associated with the theme, and guidance on Register-eligibility and management issues.

To order, visit the Arizona State Parks Gift Catalog.

Note: These are summaries for those context studies that are still available for sale. The New Deal in Arizona is now out of print, but copies can be found in many community and university libraries.