November 2010

The Tularosa Basin Historical Society and Museum has gathered artifacts and stories of significance to thrill residents and visitors alike. Follow the walking tour of ten hand-picked historic homes in the region to get a sense of turn of the century architecture and stop by the museum in order to learn about the atomic detonation conducted at the Trinity site on July 16, 1945.

The City of Peoria was established in the 1880’s when William J. Murphy’s vision of fertile farm lands fed by water from the Salt River became reality with the completion of the Arizona Canal in 1885. Once this canal was completed, Murphy went East to interest people in settling in this new community. Mr. Murphy was successful in catching people’s attention – over 5,000 acres of land in the new district was purchased by citizens from Peoria, Illinois. Four families from Peoria, Illinois were among the first to move to Arizona to occupy and work their land.

Residences in the new community sprang up, and a school and Post Office were established by 1889. More people followed the original families and Peoria continued to grow as a farming community. The farmlands were fertile and the people made a good living, despite having to battle swarms of red ants and the occasional rattlesnake in the kitchen.

Containing everything from an animatronic cowboy who answers questions to a restored windmill, the Western Heritage Museum and Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame simply has something for all ages. Learn about how the pioneers conquered this seemingly uninhabitable territory before taking a look at some of the most prominent cowboys and ranchers from the area. Exhibits at the museum are always changing, but right now include a panoramic photographic history of the area.

Society meetings are being held about four times a year, usually on third Thursdays at 6:00 PM at the Oro Valley Library conference room to make decisions about priorities for the society, reviewing projects, and having guest speakers to share historical events.

Founded in 1977, the society preserves historical artifacts and properties, educates, encourages awareness and appreciation of the unique cultural-historical heritage of the community of Oracle and surrounding areas, and promotes alliances that enhance the society's ability to influence the future by honoring the past. In 1978 the society purchased and stabilized the Acadia Ranch building, which today serves as its headquarters and a museum devoted to regional history. In 1984, the Acadia Ranch was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places.

The original mosaic tile floor, marble counter tops and steel vault are all still integral parts of the exhibition space.

In 1985, Western Savings and Loan donated the building to the Winslow Historical Society.

The history of Mesa dates back two thousand years to the Hohokam Indians. The Hohokam, whose name means the Departed Ones, built the original canal system that spread over 125 miles and is still used today.

With the exception of the decade of the 1920’s, when the cotton prices plummeted, Mesa increased by at least 79% every decennial census through 1990. In 1990 the census showed Mesa to have the highest growth rate of any city over 100,000 in the United States; the population grew 89% from 152,404 in 1980 to 288,091 in 1990. In 2000 Mesa’s population is approximately 404,000, over 100,000 people more than in 1990. The mild winter climate, beautiful environment, and strong economic conditions attract more residents every year. From humble beginnings, Mesa has developed into the third largest city in Arizona and the 46th largest city in the United States. The Census Bureau now designates the Valley as the Phoenix-Mesa Metropolitan Statistical Area. Mesa’s pioneers might not recognize the present-day city, but surely would be proud of what they began.

In this quiet one-street community visitors can walk in the footsteps of Sheriff Pat Garrett, Billy the Kid, and other infamous characters involved in the Lincoln County War, 1878-1881. The Anderson-Freeman Visitors Center, the only non-historical building open to the public, has exhibits in a timeline starting with American Indian pre-history and ending with the Lincoln County War. The monument now includes 17 structures and outbuildings, 4 of which are open year round and 2 more seasonally as museums. See the Old Lincoln County Courthouse with museum exhibits that recount the details of the Lincoln County War and the historic use of the "House" as store, residence, Masonic Lodge, courthouse, and jail. Continue your walk through history by visiting the Dr. Woods House, defensive torreón (tower) for the village, the San Juan Mission Church, and the Montaño store.

Visitors will learn from the past and recognize the need to preserve the historical heritage which has been bestowed upon them. Ours is a human heritage stretching from archaic people to Hispanic settlers, miners, dam builders, dreamers and developers, to winter and summer visitors.

Once the fourth largest city in the Arizona Territory, Jerome boasted a population of nearly 15,000 on its hilltop haven. During its heyday, men and women from all over the world made their way to Arizona to find work and maybe a new way of life.

The museum and gift shop were opened in the early 1950s. With displays depicting the timeline of Jerome’s past to its present, items such as old miners equipment to remains of gambling in saloons can be seen within the museum. This month, August 2002, we are finishing up displays on the Chinese in Jerome and the melting pot of other ethnicities that include the Italians, Slavs, Mexicans, Irish, Russians and more. The museum is evolving from pure mining to demonstrating the people who made Jerome what it is.