Things to see
Rose Garden
Territorial Women’s Memorial Rose Garden
The Territorial Women’s Memorial Rose Garden is dedicated to the pioneer and frontier women who helped settle the State of Arizona.
In essence, these women prepared the way for many others to make a life in Arizona.
Rose Garden History
The idea of a Memorial Rose Garden began in 1938 when Evelyn Perkins, of the Perkins Ranch and a member of the Yavapai Cowbelles, proposed the establishment of a memorial rose garden be established on the grounds of the Sharlot Hall Museum. The Yavapai Cowbelles is an auxiliary to the Yavapai Cattle Growers Association. This women’s organization provides education about cattle growing and was formed to promote friendly, social relations among cattle ranchers and to cooperate for the best interest of the cattle industry, community and country.
Despite these efforts, nothing came to fruition regarding the garden until 1948 when Dorothy McMullen, President of the Prescott Garden Club, presented a design for the rose garden to the Sharlot Hall Museum staff and governing board. Once a design was agreed upon, members of the Prescott Garden Club began preparing, planting, and caring for the garden. The first memorial rose bushes were planted in March 1948 by the Yavapai Cowbelles.
In 1974, the garden was moved from its original site on the south side of the Governor’s Mansion to its present location on the north side of the Mansion on the Museum grounds. Originally, each woman was represented by a rose bush. Today, the entire garden stands for all the honored ladies, including Sharlot M. Hall.
In addition to an actual rose garden for museum guests to experience, in January 2016 a new Rose Garden kiosk exhibit opened in the Sharlot Hall Building. This exhibit presents biographies and images of the many Rose Garden ladies, as well as a variety of interactive games for children.
Rose Garden Nominees
The Sharlot Hall Museum Research Center (also known as Library & Archives) also houses a Rose Garden collection (MS-39) that includes all the hardcopy nominations, research documentation, and photos of each lady represented in the Territorial Women’s Memorial Rose Garden. Also, each woman’s completed biography and image is available online at our Library & Archive site. For some of the women, there may be additional biographical and genealogical information found within the Research Center holdings. Presently, more than 500 women have been honored, representing nearly all occupations and ethnic backgrounds.
To nominate a woman for the Territorial Women’s Memorial Rose Garden, all nominees must have lived in Arizona prior to Statehood Day, February 14, 1912. A brief biography (and an image, if available) of the nominee is required. A donation is requested to support the care of the Garden and the Rose Garden Collection.
Please submit a Nomination Form for the Territorial Women’s Memorial Rose Garden along with the above items and any additional resources to the Sharlot Hall Museum Research Center (Library & Archives) at archivesrequest@sharlothallmuseum.org or by regular mail:
Sharlot Hall Museum
Research Center
415 W. Gurley Street
Prescott, AZ 86301
Honoring a Pioneer:
The Sharlot M. Hall Statue
On Saturday, May 2, 2026, Sharlot Hall Museum celebrated the dedication of an inspiring new bronze statue honoring Sharlot M. Hall, one of Arizona’s most influential pioneers. The nearly seven-foot-tall statue was installed in the Museum’s rose garden and celebrated Hall’s enduring legacy as a poet, historian, and storyteller.
Created by acclaimed Prescott sculptor Heather Johnson Beary, the statue was made possible through the generosity of longtime museum supporter and former Sharlot Hall Museum employee George Fuller, who selected Beary for the project. Museum Executive Director Stuart Rosebrook described the gift as a landmark moment for both the Museum and the community.
“We are incredibly grateful for this extraordinary contribution,” Rosebrook shared. “This will be only the second statue of its kind in the area depicting a figure from our more recent past, alongside the Ernest A. Love statue at Prescott Regional Airport. It marks a significant moment for our region and for the museum.”
The sculpture depicts Hall as she might have appeared around 1912, standing confidently in a split skirt and holding binoculars and her poetry close at hand. At her feet, elements of the high desert, including cactus, pine, and a horned toad, reflect both her writing and her deep connection to Arizona’s natural landscape. Her thoughtful expression and subtle smile capture Hall’s independent spirit and lasting influence.
“For more than 25 years, I’ve wanted to create a statue of Sharlot Hall, so this opportunity is incredibly meaningful,” said Beary. “She continues to be a powerful role model, especially for her pioneering spirit and her willingness to speak her mind.”
Beary is widely recognized for her detailed and expressive bronze sculptures, which can be found in prominent locations including Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Zion National Park, The Highlands Center, and private collections such as that of Richard Branson. Her appreciation for the Southwest’s history and landscape made her especially well-suited to create a lasting tribute to Sharlot Hall.
The dedication of the Sharlot M. Hall statue marked a meaningful new chapter in honoring the woman whose vision and passion for Arizona history helped establish the Museum that bears her name.
Photos from the Sharlot M. Hall Statue Unveiling
