Located in the flat grasslands south of Bisbee’s Mule Mountains at an elevation of 4000 feet, Douglas is the gateway to Mexico. Douglas’ charming avenues are lined with historic buildings each yearning to tell a story.
Douglas’ most famous resident, John Slaughter, built his cattle ranch in the late 1800s on 100,000 acres just east of the current city. The Slaughter Ranch is now a beautifully restored museum where visitors can view a movie about John Slaughter in the comforts of lovely ranch site.

Douglas was founded in 1899, and its sister city in Mexico, Agua Prieta, in 1901. The town of Douglas boasts 405 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, more than Tucson or Phoenix. Some of the most famous buildings include El Paso & Southwestern Railroad Depot, which is now the police station, Gadsden Hotel, YMCA and the 1919 Grand Theater, which was once considered the grandest theatre between El Paso and Los Angeles.

Douglas’ Gadsden Hotel, “the last of the grand hotels” was originally built in 1907. The centerpiece of this five-story, 160 room hotel is the lobby with its Italian marble staircase and pillars, Victorian chandeliers and 14-carat gold-leaf ceiling set in front of the stunning 42-foot authentic Tiffany stained glass mural.
The town is also home to Church Square, the only place in the world that hosts four churches on four corners of the same block. Adjacent to Church Square, the Douglas-Williams House, which was designed with a Spanish Colonial style, is home to the Douglas Historical Society and now hosts an in-depth genealogical library.

Douglas hosts a wide range of festivals and events throughout the year including the annual AJRA Rodeo and Cochise County Fair. The area is also home to amazing birding, camping, hiking and caving opportunities.

Just across the border, Mexico’s attractions offer their own draw for visitors, including the missions of Father Kino, arts and crafts including the legendary stonework of Cananea, and the leather and pottery of Agua Prieta. Agua Prieta also hosts Iglesia de Guadeloupe, an ornately carved church.

For more information on Douglas and Agua Prieta, call 888-315-9999.