William “Curly” and Annie Neal - Arizona’s Black History

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