Sedona, AZ — On Saturday, April 18, the Arizona State chapter of the Colonial Dames of America will hold a ceremony to dedicate the Schuerman Homestead House as a national historic landmark. The ceremony will take place in the historic Apple Shed at the Sedona Heritage Museum at 11 am. It is free to attend the dedication ceremony.
The Schuerman Homestead House, located on Loy Lane just off of the Upper Red Rock Loop Road, is a nearly 120 year old house which was built by Heinrich Schuerman. Schuerman was the first vintner, or wine maker, in Sedona and, in fact, all of Arizona. He started his vineyard and winery in the 1880s. In the early 1900s he made a Homestead Act claim for an additional 40 acres. One of the requirements for fulfillment of his Homestead claim was that he needed to build a home on the land, in addition to improving and farming it. Once he received title to the land in 1913, he planted acres of zinfandel grapes, expanding his operation. The home, which still stands, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2023.
The Colonial Dames of America is a women’s organization whose members trace their ancestry to America’s colonial era, 1607 to 1775. The organization supports historic preservation projects across the nation, landmarking historic buildings and providing money for preservation projects.
“We’re honored to have the Schuerman Homestead House dedicated as an historic landmark by the Colonial Dames of America,” said Nate Meyers, executive director of the Sedona Historical Society which owns the building. “The house is an important piece of local and state history. This recognition will go a long way toward helping us share the story of the Schuurmans and all they accomplished.”
The Sedona Historical Society operates the Sedona Heritage Museum located in Jordan Historical Park, 735 Jordan Road in Uptown Sedona, Arizona. Open daily 11 am – 3 pm. For more information call 928-282-7038 or visit www.sedonamuseum.org.
