In the 1890s, the Neal family was one of the wealthiest self-made families in the Tucson area. No small feat considering the Neals were Black in a place where less than one-half of 1% of the people were Black or were of mixed-race with African and European, or Native American ancestry.
William "Curly" and Annie Neal opened the Mountain View Hotel in Oracle in 1895. It was a luxury resort for people with tuberculosis and a respite for Tucsonans looking to escape the summer heat. Guests included celebrities, prominent business owners, and foreign dignitaries. Newspapers heralded the Neal’s business endeavors. This is their story.
Producer/Editor: Nina Shelton
Videographer: Gage Judd, John DeSoto
Editor: Mya Long, John DeSoto
Graphics: Carolyn Yaussy, Brian Deevers, Elena Lopez
Narrator: Tony Perkins
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