The History of Sedona

The History of Sedona: Founders Bear Howard Sedona’s Best

Pioneers, prospectors and trappers began to arrive in the early 1800s. In 1876 John “Jim” Thompson built his cabin in Oak Creek Canyon and became the first permanent white settler. Then a rugged escaped convict from Califor-nia, named C.J. “Bear” Howard, built his hide- out cabin at the West Fork of Oak Creek.

Bear Howard’s cabin ironically became the Mayhew Lodge, where years later it was expanded and became a secret refuge of elite movie stars and presidents from around the world!

The Schneblys Sedona’s Best

In 1901 a Pennsylvania Dutch couple, Theodore and Sedona Schnebly, moved to the area and purchased 80 acres. Hoping to get a post office established here, Theodore submitted the name “Schnebly Station.” It was rejected because it was too long.

His brother, Ellsworth, suggested using his wife’s name. In 1902 the town was officially named “Sedona”.

Author and producer, Zane Grey, was an avid hunter and lover of the wildlife in this area and wrote his famous book “Call of the Canyon”.

In 1923 Zane Grey convinced producer, Jesse Lasky to film the silent hit movie based on that book in its actual setting. After its success, film crews flocked to Sedona’s beautiful Red Rock Country. Since then hundreds of movies have been filmed here. Today, it is not unusual to see Hollywood film crews shooting movies, TV commercials, music videos and TV programs all using Sedona’s natural beauty as their backdrop.

A work of art in itself, Sedona, is a land of majestic beauty. Every sunrise and sunset inspires a new drama. The rocks are painted by the light into breathtaking hues of red and gold.

Crude etchings in the rocks near ancient Indian ruins mark the beginning of Sedona’s Art History. Their petroglyphs (etchings) and pictographs (paintings) are relished today as timeless art forms. They can still be viewed in the many Indian ruins that dot the Sedona area.

Sedona’s popularity in the modern-art world began with the dream of the great Egyptian- born American sculptor named Nassan Gobran. Once in Sedona, Gobran met Max Ernst, the internationally famed surrealist who was one of the originators of the collage.

Gobran’s dream for Sedona was to make it “a center for the arts” because it was “an artist’s haven.” Gobran’s dream became a reality on April 28, 1961, when the old Jordan apple-packing barn was purchased and became the Sedona Arts Center.

Another major landmark in Sedona’s art history was the founding of the Cowboy Artists of America.