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1880 map of Arizona shows the seven counties at the time: Mohave, Yavapai, Apache, Yuma, Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima. The Empire Ranch location is shown on this map in Pima County.

1883 map of Arizona Territory shows the location of the Fish Ranch, also known as the Empire Ranch, which was purchased by Walter Vail and his partner in 1876. In 1880, the Southern Pacific Railroad arrived in Arizona. This map shows the routes of…

Close up of the 1883 map of Arizona Territory showing Pima County and the location of the Fish Ranch.

Edward L. Vail agreed to lease a building he owned for the Rosemont School at the rate of ninety-five dollars per year. The building was located on the Fair View Placer Claim approximately 1/4 mile east from the Post Office in the Village of…

Following the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, the Federal government started surveying the West with the intention of selling as much land as possible to the public. The system used divided land into thirty-six single-square-mile sections. Each section…

This 1906 map of Arizona shows thirteen counties and railroad routes. Included on the map is the town of Vail, which was named for Walter Vail, who deeded land to the railroad for its stop. The Empire Ranch location is not shown on this map as it was…

Rate notices and bill for dues from the Arizona Cattle Growers Association which was $2.00 annually, plus one-half cent per head above 200 head. The document is stamped paid and has hand written notation of calculation indicating Vail's dues of…

This bill of sale is from Henry M. Kemp to Vail and Hislop. Vail and Hislop bought 160 acres from Fish and Silverberg for $2000 in gold coin according to the Pima County Recorder Book 3, pages 551-554 (not shown here). Afterwards they purchased the…

Notary Document for 1876 Bill of Sale for properties and animals related to the expansion of the Empire Ranch.

Agreement with J. S. Vosburg, signed by Walter L. Vail to brand up to 1000 calves belonging to the Pantano Ranch with the Heart brand (used by Vail on the Empire Ranch) instead of the Double-box brand used by Vosburg.

Cowboys breaking in horses on the Empire Ranch. The Empire Ranch raised their own horses bringing in some stallions from the Chino Ranch in California and some Hamiltonians, a standard bred horse.

Cowboy riding a bucking horse. Horses were critical to the running of any ranch. Mr. Vail turned over the breaking of horses to his best men. Harry Heffner stated the horse from his withers forward belonged to Vail; the other part belonged to the…

Two horses tethered to a buckboard filled with supplies for the camps. The Empire Ranch expanded by purchasing other ranches or contracting to operate and place cattle on other ranches. At one point it was estimated the ranch covered a little over a…

Three women, one man, and two children in the cattle pen. The Empire Ranch began a breeder-feeder formula which was a basic pattern of shipping cattle outside of Arizona to fatten. This proved very profitable and helped with the overcrowded…

Men and women on horses getting cattle ready for an inspection at Pantano. In 1885 Walter Vail as President of the Arizona Stock Growers Association worked with his committee to formulate legislative proposals to protect the livestock industry of…

A cattle roundup. As cattle wander far in grazing, herds become mingled. The roundup permits separation of each owner's stockand because calves always follow their mother, the finding and branding of the past year's calf crop is easily accomplished.

This cowboy (most likely Harry Heffner) at Empire Ranch is dressed in typical cowboy regalia standing next to his horse. Harry Heffner reminisced that the cowboys liked fancy bridles with silver but as far as their clothing was concerned, Levi…