The Arizona Pioneers’ Home is a continuing care retirement home operated and funded by the State of Arizona.  The Home provides care and services to residents living independently, as well as to those requiring personal, assisted living, intermediate and skilled care; criterion for admission is affixed in state statute.

            The Arizona Pioneers’ Home began as the brainchild of three prominent Prescott citizens, A.J. Doran, Frank M. Murphy and Johnny Duke, to repay the faithful and longtime Arizona residents who helped pioneer and build the state.  A.J. Doran sponsored a bill to create the Pioneers’ Home in Arizona’s Territorial Legislature in 1907.  The initial bill failed, but it gained the full support of both houses two years later, and was signed into law by then Territorial Governor Joseph H. Kibbey, on March 11, 1909.

            Frank M. Murphy donated four and a half acres in southwest Prescott as the building site, and later T.G. Norris donated adjacent land to the North.  The original red brick three story building with porticos was designed by local Prescott architect, W.S. Elliot and built for $25,000.  The Pioneers’ Home opened its doors on February 1, 1911, situated atop a granite promontory overlooking the City of Prescott, Arizona.  A.J. Doran was named the first Superintendent and served from February, 1911 to August, 1912.

            Initially the home was built to house 40 men, but in 1916, pursuant to the benevolent donation from W.S. Parsons, an addition of a women’s wing was completed to provide for 20 women.  Later, in 1929, the home was again expanded to include Arizona’s Hospital for Disabled Miners.

           Today the Home can care for up to 150 residents, and operates via appropriations of approximately $5 million annually through state land trusts, a miners’ hospital fund, state charitable funds and the general fund.  The current population of residents includes individuals from throughout the State of Arizona.  Residents of the Pioneers’ Home pay a portion of their care based on their income, which is deposited back into the general fund.