Empire Ranch
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Empire Ranch is a working cattle ranch in southeastern Pima County, Arizona, that was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. In its heyday, Empire Ranch was one of the largest in
The Empire Ranch headquarters.
John H. Harvey (left), Edward L. Vail (center), and Walter L. Vail (right) in 1879.
The Empire Ranch house, c.1900.
Vaqueros at Empire Ranch, c.1890.
Walter Vail
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Walter Lennox Vail was an American businessman, cattle dealer, and politician. He is known for his Empire Land & Cattle Company, which spanned over one million acres throughout five states. Vail has b
Empire Ranch
…not he built the original four-room adobe house and corral, which may have already been there when he arrived. On August 22, 1876, an Easterner named Walter Vail and his English business partner, Herbert R. Hislop, purchased Empire Ranch and its 612 head of cattle from Fish and his partner, Simon Silverberg, who…
Vail in 1882