William B. Back Ranch, 5525 Beaver Creek Road, Rimrock, Yavapai County, AZ

Significance: In 1888, William B. Back acquired land along Beaver Creek, which included the prehistoric Montezuma Well Archeological Site in central Arizona. Utilizing sinagua ditches from the well's outlet, he irrigated farmlands that were patented as the Back Ranch in 1907. On the homestead he built a ranch house and outbuildings, including a log smoke house. The smoke house, according to local tradition, had logs or metal fixtures used in an earlier cabin. William Back also served as unofficial caretaker of the new Montezuma Castle Monument designated in 1906. After the residence was destroyed by fire, his son, William Back, Jr., built a new wood frame residence in 1930. This residence became the first ranger contact station after 1947, when the Federal government acquired the Back Ranch (including the Montezuma Well) as part of an enlarged Montezuma Castle National Monument. The smoke house has since deteriorated beyond repair, while today the residence stands vacant.
Survey number: HABS AZ-217
Building/structure dates: 1888 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1907 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1947 Subsequent Work