Submitted by Pinal County Historical Museum
Florence’s claim to fame is its historic district, with over 100 homes and commercial properties on the National Register of Historic Places.
What makes the Historic District special is the quantity of historic properties and the diverse combination of architectural styles.
You will see Sonoran, Early and Late Transitional, American Victorian, American Bungalow, Mission Revival and neo-classical architecture styles as you drive through town. Within these architectural styles celebrates Florence’s Mexican and Anglo heritage.
Our Main Street is unique because it remains an active working Main Street with many local businesses.
The Francisco Cuen Building on Main Street recently has been renovated. Prior to 1882, Francisco Cuen, a butcher, built an L-shaped property on Main Street. The long wing was believed to be the residence that is fronted on 11th Street, and the shorter wing on Main Street was the butcher shop.
The Cuen Building served as Florence’s first telephone exchange from 1910 to 1950. Next, the building was the Fulbright and McFarland law office. Tom Fulbright and Ernest W. McFarland were defense attorneys for Winnie Ruth Judd and successfully argued against her sanity in 1933.
Judd, known as the “Trunk Murderess,” escaped the gallows and was sent to the state hospital. After McFarland was elected to the U.S. Senate, Fulbright continued to run his private practice out of the Cuen Building until his death in 1972.
After sitting unoccupied for many years, Tom and Lynn Smith purchased the Cuen Building in 2019 and fully restored the property that is now home to the Arizona Flower Girl (143 N. Main St.).
Explore Florence’s rich stories and gain a greater appreciation for the local architecture by:
- Joining a guided walking tour of Florence’s Historic District. Discover which movie star was married in Florence, how the town’s street grid differs from most other towns and more. (First Saturday of the month in January, February and March).
secure.qgiv.com/for/pchm/event/857032 - Participating in the 37th annual Historic Florence Home Tour on Feb. 11. During the Home Tour, private residences are open to the public as well as commercial properties, churches and more. For more information on the Home Tour visit www.florenceaz.gov or call 520.868.7040.
- Visiting the Pinal County Historical Museum, 715 S. Main St., Florence
Step back in time and explore Florence’s rich history at the Pinal County Historical Museum. Our displays of cactus furniture, Florence’s Historic District, shootout at the Tunnel Saloon, Second Territorial Prison, Junior Parada Rodeo, farm equipment and more bring Florence’s stories to life.
Additionally, the museum houses a large and diverse research collection from which exhibits and programs are created, as well as opportunities for academic and community-based research.
Find one-of-a-kind art, jewelry and notecards, books, gifts for kids and more at our gift shop.
For more information visit us at:
www.facebook.com/pchsmuseum1
www.instagram.com/pchsmuseum1
www.pinalcountyhistoricalmuseum.org
