SEDONA | HISTORIC RANGER STATION MURAL
PAST, PRESENT AND COMMUNITY
A mural celebrating Sedona’s historic Ranger Station house (1917) and barn (1934), both listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Led by James Havens, more than 100 community members, ages 2 to 85, took part in a five-day painting event.
The composition brings together cacti, a ranger on horseback and artist Lillian Wilhelm Smith. Gray tones depict the historic elements; color records the present-day landscape.
THE SEDONA EDITION
SEDONA RANGER STATION LIMITED EDITION
A limited edition celebrating Sedona’s history and the community that helped bring this mural to life. Contact the studio for availability.
The USFS Ranger Station residence
The historic ranger station, also known as the USFS Ranger Station residence, is the oldest structure in Sedona. Built in 1917 by USFS Ranger Jesse Bushell, it stands as one of the earliest examples of the USFS 1-D model ranger residence, which became a standard architectural style nationwide. Recently, it has also become a focal point for a community art project, featuring a Sedona mural that celebrates the area's rich heritage.
The USFS Ranger Station Barn
The historic ranger station barn in Sedona was constructed in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a New Deal initiative launched by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This program provided jobs for young men aged 17-28, focusing on manual labor projects that promoted nature conservation and the development of natural resources on public lands. At that time, the CCC operated a camp in Sedona, approximately where the Arabella Resort is located today. In 2008, both the Residence and Barn were honored by being placed on the National Register of Historic Places, further highlighting their significance in the community, alongside contemporary efforts like the community art project that includes the Sedona mural.
Sedona Native American History
The primary ancient tribe in the Sedona area was the Sinagua, who thrived there from around 650 to 1400 A.D., leaving behind impressive cliff dwellings and rock art. Later, the region was inhabited or traversed by the Hopi, Yavapai, and Apache, with the Hopi regarding the Sinagua as their ancestors. Recently, a community art project has brought attention to the area, featuring a Sedona mural that includes a clay bow relic from another time. Notably, pottery shards from that historic period were found just a block away at the KSB property near the historic ranger station.
The USFS Rangers
In the early 1900s, a USFS forest ranger served as a custodian of the newly formed National Forests, tasked with protecting them from fire, poaching, and trespass, while managing public use of resources. These men often came from diverse backgrounds, such as cowboys, soldiers, and miners, with few having formal forestry education. Their duties included patrolling on horseback, enforcing rules, issuing permits for grazing and timber, and fighting fires. Interestingly, one of their legacies can be seen in community art projects today, such as the Sedona mural, which pays homage to the historic ranger station and the vital role these rangers played in preserving our natural heritage.
Artist Lillian Wilhelm Smith
Lillian Wilhelm Smith was an accomplished illustrator and easel painter renowned for her Arizona landscapes and portraits. Hailing from a prosperous family in New York City, she honed her skills at the National Academy of Design, the Art Students League, Columbia University, and the Leonia School of Art in New Jersey.
Sedona’s newest park, which celebrates the city’s history, features one of its oldest buildings at the center. However, just beyond the borders of Ranger Station Park on Brewer Road lies a poignant reminder of a lesser-known chapter in the area’s past. The stone house at the park’s southeast corner, now part of Los Abrigados Resort and Spa, was once the She-Kay-Ah Ranch and served as the home for Lillian Wilhelm Smith. This historic site embodies the spirit of the community art project that pays tribute to the artistic legacy found throughout Sedona, including the vibrant Sedona mural that captures the essence of its rich cultural heritage.
THE COMMUNITY ART PROJECT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS AT THE HISTORIC RANGER STATION, WITH OVER 100 PARTICIPANTS PUTTING BRUSH TO CANVAS - MANY FOR THE FIRST TIME!
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED!
A very special thank-you to everyone who took part in this Sedona mural event! It was a sincere pleasure to meet you all and share some special creative moments! We will be back soon!
SPECIAL THANKS! A very special thank-you to Carla Williams & Craig Swanson and the team at Keep Sedona Beautiful for their invaluable support in our community art project. A heartfelt thank you as well to Nancy Lattanz at the Arts & Culture department and the entire City of Sedona for their contributions. We also appreciate the team at the Arizona Community Foundation for their support of this initiative, which features the historic ranger station and the vibrant Sedona mural. Cheers!
KEEP SEDONA BEAUTIFUL
SPECIAL THANKS TO KSB "KEEP SEDONA BEAUTIFUL"
A very special thank-you to Carla Willians and everyone at "Keep Sedona Beautiful" for all the dedicated work being done day-in and day-out to conserve and protect Sedona's sacred places! Their efforts are especially evident in community art projects that celebrate our stunning landscapes and the preservation of historic sites like the ranger station.
Keep Sedona Beautiful has been the premier environmental nonprofit in the Sedona area for the last 52 years, bringing longevity, integrity, and passion to environmental issues that matter to local residents and businesses, as well as visitors from around the world who come to experience and enjoy the area's natural beauty, including the breathtaking Sedona mural.
Learn more about KSB at www.keepsedonabeautiful.org.
THE CITY OF SEDONA
SPECIAL THANKS TO "THE CITY OF SEDONA"
A very special thank-you to Nancy Lattanz at the Arts & Culture department for the City of Sedona! Thank you for hosting this important community art project at the historic ranger station!
Learn more about the arts in Sedona, including the impressive Sedona mural, by visiting the City of Sedona website:
ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The mission of the Arizona Community Foundation is to lead, serve, and collaborate to mobilize enduring philanthropy for a better Arizona, which includes supporting initiatives like community art projects, such as the Sedona mural at the historic ranger station.
Working together enhances creativity, ingenuity, and impact. We value teamwork and partnerships, both internally and externally, and strive for collective success over individual achievement.