November 2010

For generations, American Indian tribes have sought to live in harmony with the beautiful and harsh environment of the Southwest and discovered ways to thrive with what is able to grow here. Each piece of art was inspired by the natural world, growing from the earth, sustaining life and reflects the artists' visions of that legacy.

The museum houses irreplaceable collections of prehistoric and contemporary pottery, prehistoric jewelry and stone artifacts. The Smoki Museum exhibits also include an outstanding collection of Southwest basketry and kachinas. Among the museum's many valued collections are artist Kate Cory's numerous photographs, paintings, and documents.

Show Low had its beginning as a ranch claimed by Marion Clark and Corydon Cooley. A creek made its way through the little valley and provided water for irrigation and the cattle grazing on the lush grass throughout the ranch. Virgin pine forests surrounded the valley. Sometime around 1876 the partners knew that one of them should leave, but could not decide which one.

A card game would settle the issue. The game believed to have been called "seven up" began and lasted through the night and into the early morning hours. Clark finally told Cooley, "Show low and you take the ranch." Cooley turned up the deuce of clubs and won a reported 100,000 acres, the cattle, crops and buildings. A century later the main street through the town was named "Deuce of Clubs." Show Low was approved for a post office in 1880. Corydon Cooley was the first postmaster.

The main museum building was the farm home of Walter and Ruth Jordan. Its first room tells the stories of Sedona pioneers, how they lived and the things they used. The core of the Jordan House is the family's original one-room cabin, built in 1930 and now restored with original furnishings. Four rooms were added in 1937, and the remainder of the present house was added in 1947.

Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Here, great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert and created the world's largest gypsum dune field.

Formal recognition for the uniqueness of the white sands of southern New Mexico came on January 18, 1933, when President Herbert Hoover, acting under the authority of the "Antiquities Act of 1906", proclaimed and established a White Sands National Monument. The monument story, however, can be traced to the waning years of the 19th century and is linked to the nationwide growth of the "national park" idea that followed the establishment of Yellowstone National Park in 1872.

White Sands National Monument preserves a major portion of this unique dune field, along with the plants and animals that have successfully adapted to this constantly changing environment. An 8-mile scenic drive leads from the Visitor Center into the heart of the dunes., while 4 marked hiking trails traverse them.

The mission: To preserve and interpret the Rosson House Museum through collections for the time period of 1895 through 1915 and to serve as stewards of Heritage Square.

Historic Heritage Square located inside Heritage & Science Park, is comprised of several beautifully restored turn of the 20th century homes (including the 1895 Rosson House) and buildings located on what was part of the original Phoenix town site during the late 1800s. Today, the park itself is part of Phoenix’s downtown Copper Square.

Visit the Sacramento Mountains Museum & Pioneer Village and learn the story of past residents as they struggled against the elements and against one another to tame the environs and claim a portion of it as their own. Stroll through the Pioneer Village and learn about the early farming and ranching industry and life ways in a rugged log cabin. In addition, use the facilities to research families, individuals or events that helped to shape the spirit of the land.

Other exhibits focus on the geology of the canyons cut by the Colorado and the history and development of Page. Films on Lake Powell, dam construction, and other subjects are shown free upon request. We also feature a book store/gift shop.

The Museum's Visitor Information Center serves as a reservation agent for river and lake trips, scenic flights, ground tours to Antelope Canyon and Alstrom Point, as well as powerboat and houseboat rentals, and as a referral service for accommodations offered by local motel/hotel/bed and breakfast establishments. The client does not pay extra for the service as the Museum receives a donation from the various properties for this visitor assistance.

The Phoenix Police Department celebrated its 125th anniversary on May 3, 2006. The Phoenix Police Department began as Marshals 125 years ago on this day and later transitioned into our current police officers.

The Arizona Humanities Council funded a study of the artifacts to determine if enough material existed to open a small museum and it was determined that there was. Barrister Place was selected as the permanent site of the museum. Through generous donations from Motorola, the area was painted and re-carpeted. Home Depot, Store #455, donated construction material for the creation of exhibit areas. The Police Department provided phones and an alarm system. Volunteers prepared the exhibits including a mock up of a 1910 city street and an old jail cell.

The community of Pine was settled in 1879 by Mormon pioneers, who endured many hardships during their settlement of this untamed country. But through their determination and faith, Pine survived. Much of what is displayed in the Pine-Strawberry Museum today is in tribute to the dedication and hard work of our founding families.

The museum relocated to its current location in 1990 from a single room in the Isabelle Hunt Memorial Public Library in Pine. This larger facility allows the display of more artifacts and documents; especially those that pertain to the Native American cultures that occupied our area, the first Spanish and Anglo pioneers to visit and settle the area, and the peoples who have remained in the community since the initial settlement.