McFarland State Historic Park, Florence

About McFarland State Historic Park

McFarland State Historic Park in Florence preserves an 1878 adobe brick courthouse that visitors tour to experience territorial Arizona history firsthand. The building blends Sonoran and Anglo-American architecture, featuring traditional adobe walls beneath a wood-shingled pitched roof and lumber hauled by wagon from northern Arizona. Originally constructed using native soil and river rocks, the structure served multiple purposes during the late 1800s and early 1900s, housing the sheriff's office, courtroom, judge's chambers, and jail on its first floor, with a jury room and quarters for visiting lawmen on the second story. Inside, visitors encounter exhibits about frontier life at the turn of the century, including Florence's World War II Prisoner of War Camp display featuring photographs and artifacts from servicemen and prisoners of war. The park also interprets the life and legacy of Ernest McFarland, an influential Arizona public servant. The museum and visitor center operate seasonally with published hours, and the park is a Certified Autism Center.