Arizona History Museum in Tucson

 Tucson Lifestyle August article: The Arizona Historical Society (AHS) @arizonahistoricalsociety was founded in Tucson in 1884 as the Society of Arizona Pioneers by Dr. John C. Handy, his father-in-law William Fisher Scott, and 58 fellow pioneers. Originally created to preserve personal narratives of early Arizona life and serve as a mutual aid society, the organization evolved over the decades, becoming the Arizona Pioneers’ Historical Society in 1897 and adopting its current name in 1973. Today, AHS serves as the state’s steward of history, with a mission to collect, preserve, interpret, and share Arizona’s heritage through exhibitions, educational programs, publications such as the Journal of Arizona History, and outreach initiatives, including National History Day. Its holdings include more than three million artifacts and manuscripts that document the cultural, political, and economic history of Arizona, the greater Southwest, and northern Mexico.

The Arizona History Museum in Tucson, located at 949 E. 2nd Street at Park Street, is the largest of AHS’s museums. Designed by iconic Tucson architect Josias Joesler, the museum offers immersive exhibits that cover Southern Arizona’s past from the Spanish colonial period through statehood, featuring collections of Spanish silver, Old West firearms, and artifacts tied to figures such as Geronimo, Wyatt Earp, Santa Anna, John Dillinger, and many more. Kids love the upstairs hands-on area featuring recreations of different ways people have lived in the Desert Southwest over thousands of years. The Arizona History Museum is a wonderful way to escape the heat while appreciating the incredible history of our beloved state.